Some of us are facing valleys in our lives.
1.Recently I was told about major job eliminations taking place at the hotels and the theme parks. People are being sent home due to a lack of attendance at the parks and no conference meetings are at hotels. Conferences are the drive behind hotel stays. This sector of our community has been severely affected. Think of the number of vendors who supplied eggs, milk, bread, assortment of meats and fish; they too have been affected.
2.I went to drop off clothing at the dry cleaners - the door is shut
I went to look for a pipe fixture - the door is shut
I went to look for another item - that door is shut
And I saw a number of small businesses in the same vicinity with doors shut as well.
I am concerned for our community.
And I ask God, what is happening here? What am I to learn here?
It is so easy to feel lost at a time like this for there are no easy fixes. This is a wave we are going to ride for a little while. How do we keep our heads above water?
Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed I turn to the trusted Word of God. This week I turned to Paul's letter to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 10
35. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.
36. 6 For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
39. But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
What do these verses say to you? Do they give you confidence, hope?
These verses spoke to me as I started to wallow in self pity. They made me snap out of it and realize I serve a living God, who sees all and knows all. He sees the pain, He hears our cries.
Paul tells us to snap out of it. You,I, we are confident people, do not lose sight of that. Confidence, although we are shakely, tells us to walk forward even if afraid. For by walking with confidence there is a reward after we have passed through this cloud. Where does our confidence come from?
It comes through our faith. Never lose sight of our faith. Our faith gives us the fortitude to persevere - once through the cloud we are stronger - we have been saved.
My friends we have what it takes to make it; we are confident, we have faith.
And we will discover all over again someone close to us - ourselves. We were not lost at all!
Help us to look up Lord, when we are feeling lost; for You lead us.
This week's song - Lead us Heavenly Father Lead us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZiyqOjBAHA
1 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o'er the world's tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.
Let your prayers come forward as you listen to this version of an old hymn; but whose words are most poignant for this time of uncertainty in our country.