I have decided to write what I hope to be a daily, short article, to help everyone at West Side (another others who read it) during this time of isolation from one another. I will at least do the weekdays, though I can’t promise which time of day it will be posted. (I’m not that organized!)
The 77th Psalm, a psalm of Asaph, begins as follows:
“I cried out to God with my voice— to God my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed” (1-3).
Today is a day of trouble for our nation, and brethren everywhere. We are concerned and anxious, and there is a tendency in times such as these to question. We appeal to God and we ask why? We complain, we feel overwhelmed. It is hard for us to focus on the blessings of God; to trust in His providential care; to see the possibility of an end to our suffering. We ask with the Psalmist, “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?” (9).
What can we do? We can remember! We can remember the good times for us. The blessings we have been showered with decades, years, months, even days ago. God is good! God loves us! He has proven it over and over again. The Psalmist knew this. His song continues:
I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. (11-15)
God is great. He does wonders among His people. We can read of them in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We can listen to our grandparents and parents when they talk of God’s goodness in their lives. We can meditate upon what He has done for us in the distant and recent past.
We can remember. We can meditate. We can know that God is with us, and all is well!
