Remember

 “As I lie in bed I remember you…” (Psalm 63:6)

If you’re on Facebook, you know that the first time you log on every day you are shown some pictures from the same date one or more years ago. It’s Facebook’s way of stirring your memory of something that was important enough to post in the past. They even have a link to your account’s “Memories”, and at the top of the page it says, “We hope you enjoy looking back and sharing your memories on Facebook, from the most recent to long ago.” Here’s my Facebook memory for today, from April 1, 2021 (which was Good Friday):

Photos help me to remember. In the dark gray days of winter, I can look at pictures I have taken of beautiful spring and summer flowers and butterflies. The pictures of past experiences of nature’s beauty assure me that there are more such experiences in my future. 

Remembering the past gives me hope for the future.

Memories are a wonderful way to trigger faith. It is in the act of remembering that we can look back in our lives and see the goodness of God active. Remembering will help us recall all the ways that God has blessed us, as well as ways that God has brought us through difficult times. Remembering how God has provided for us, guided us, watched over us, blessed us, and cared for us in the past will affirm God’s faithfulness and steadfast love for us. 

In the 63^rd psalm David says, 

As I lie in bed, I remember you;
    all night long I think of you,
     because you have always been my help.

(Psalm 63:6-7a)

It is in remembering God that David realizes that God has always been there for David, always helping him along the way, through thick and through thin. Knowing that God has always been his help, David chooses to trust God for the future: 

In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
I cling to you,
    and your hand keeps me safe.

(Psalm 63:7b-8)

When we remember God’s loving and saving actions on our behalf in the past, then we are confident in God’s loving and saving actions on our behalf in the present, and we are filled with hope that God will act similarly in the future. Remembering God from our past gives us hope for the future. To reflect upon God’s amazing providence in our lives in the past will give us confidence as we face an uncertain future.

I’m pretty sure that Jesus knew that memory is a powerful aid to faith when he shared his last meal with his disciples. For in that meal, he said, “Take and eat… Do this in remembrance of me,” and “Drink of this, all of you… Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus knew, I’m pretty sure, that when we remember what he has done for us, then we will be filled with hope and strength to endure the present and to face the future. Jesus knew, I’m pretty sure, that when we remember the immeasurable depth of the love that he has shown to us, then we can be sure that the same love is being poured out upon us today, and the same love will be poured out upon us every today that we live – all the way into eternity.

I don’t know what the future holds for me. But I remember the ways that God has brought me through life thus far, and so I can face the future with peace and assurance. 

Because God is faithful. 

I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know God. 

And that is enough to get me through today.

In the Wilderness

 “At once the Spirit sent [Jesus] out into the desert, and he was tempted in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.” (Mark 1:12-13a)

In the wilderness, it’s only you and God.

In the wilderness there are no cars, there is no internet service, there are no modern-day creature comforts and conveniences. 

In the wilderness the path that you must walk is arduous – loose stones to twist your ankle, exposed roots to trip you up.

In the wilderness, all pretenses are stripped away; it is just you, and God.

But God is enough. More than enough.

Just you and God – that’s the whole point of the wilderness experiences in the Bible. When the people of Israel were made to wander in the wilderness for forty years, it wasn’t so much a punishment for unbelief as it was a lesson in faith and trust in God for the rising generation. 

The wilderness is where we learn what it means to trust God for life.

Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan. We think of Jesus as being all alone for those forty days, just him versus Satan. But Jesus wasn’t alone. He was accompanied by the Holy Spirit. God was with him throughout every moment of those forty days.

The temptations that Jesus experienced were meant to test the determination and direction of his faith. Whom would Jesus trust for life? Whom would Jesus worship and serve? Into whose hands would Jesus entrust himself?

The season of Lent, which begins today, is modeled after the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness. Historically, Lent has been observed as a period of preparation for the celebration of Easter. During the season of Lent we intentionally reflect, not only on the glory and majesty of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but even more we reflect on the reason for which Jesus had to die and be raised in the first place. During the season of Lent we take seriously our own sinfulness, and we are called to renew our faith in Christ and our determination to be his faithful followers.

I urge you not to rush to Easter. Let these forty days be for you a time in the wilderness. During these forty days, be mindful of the choice that is always before us: Whom will I trust for life? Whom will I worship and serve? Into whose hands will I entrust myself?

Let these forty days be a time when it’s just you and God in the wilderness.

Because God is enough. More than enough.

And Yet...

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.

(Psalm 4:8)

Another day has passed, O God.

Another sunrise and sunset in the books.

Another day in the world of pandemic:

  To date, more than one million cases of COVID-19

    worldwide – and that just includes confirmed cases.*

  To date, nearly 53,000 people – your children – 

    have died. Again, that just includes confirmed cases.

  6.6 million people filed unemployment claims

    last week in the United States, 

    double from the previous week.

  The models predicting death tolls project more and more 

    every day.

Another day in the new normal:

  terrifying

  confusing

  mind-boggling

  overwhelming

  lonely

  numbing

  frustrating

  …

And yet.

My faith always includes these words: And yet.

Because my faith is in you.

It has been another day in the pandemic.

It has been another day of roller-coaster emotions.

It has been another day of unbearable uncertainty.

And yet, 

I have been filled with your peace;

I have witnessed your goodness; 

I have been assured of your presence;

I have a deep, abiding sense of hope;

I have felt your compassion, and mercy, and love.

Because I can say “And yet...”

and you are the subject of the verbs

  of hope,

  and comfort,

  and assurance,

then I will rest in peace tonight.

The chaos and troubles of the day

will always meet their match in you.

No matter what comes my way,

no matter the obstacles I face,

no matter the challenges that confront me,

I will say, “And yet, God...”

And I know all will be well.

In peace I will lie down in sleep,

     for you alone, Lord,

     make me dwell in safety.

Because at the end of the day,

I can always confess my faith:

“And yet, God...”

And therein I will find peace.

Your peace.

Amen. And good night.

*Figures cited from statistics posted on April 2, 2020. They are changing daily, and not for the better at the time of this blog post.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

Trusting God in the Chaos

I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right,
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.

(Psalm 119:75-77)

We confess, O Lord, that the days 

are troubling for us.

We are at a loss as to why 

this world is in such chaos.

We have no answer to the questions 

of the suffering of innocents.

We are dizzy with

  confusion,

    fear,

      worry.

We are in deep waters,

and the current is overwhelming.

But we do know that you are good,

and you are righteous,

and in all things you are just,

and you are faithful and true.

In humility we confess that we cannot plumb 

the depths of your mind,

nor can we fathom 

the limits of your providence.

We do not know the answers 

to the questions of “Why?”

But we do know you;

and your judgments are right.

In all things, you are moving the world 

toward our final redemption.

In your steadfast love and mercy,

we experience life. 

Abundant life.

And so we turn our hearts toward you, O God.

Where else will we turn?

Where else can we turn?

In your mercy, draw near to us,

to comfort us.

  With your compassion, heal us,

  and strengthen us.

    Through your word, instruct us,

    that we might be faithful.

      By your grace, save us,

      for your glory.

We do not understand 

the chaos we are experiencing.

But we trust you, for you are faithful.

And we turn to you:

Save us, Lord, 

according to your steadfast love.

Lead us beside still waters,

and give us rest.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

Faith That Declares, "Nevertheless"

But I will hope continually,
    and will praise thee yet more and more.

(Psalm 71:14)

I wonder, O Lord, what these days mean.

The earth is at a standstill,

our world has come to a screeching halt.

People are scared, and with good reason.

An invisible enemy has crippled us,

and the only thing we can do

is withdraw, separate, isolate, quarantine.

I wonder, O Lord, what these days mean.

Restaurants reduced to carry-out,

businesses shuttered,

entire cities closed down,

massive layoffs and sudden unemployment,

leaders struggling to find answers to questions

nobody ever thought would be asked.

Ever.

The pain is real for your children, Lord,

all over the world.

This virus is afflicting sickness and death

upon your people, Lord,

all over the world.

     Grief

     Fear

     Panic

     Despair

     Anguish

     Sleeplessness

     Doubt

These aren’t just words, O God.

These are what we’re feeling.

Right. Now.

I wonder, O Lord, what these days mean.

And yet, in spite of my questions,

and in spite of the troubling days

your people are living,

still I turn to you, and with all confidence

I say,

NEVERTHELESS!

Nevertheless, I will hope continually,

and I will praise you more and more.

For the midst of chaos, 

in the midst of trouble,

in the midst of sickness,

in the midst of grief,

in the midst of deep darkness,

is You.

You, O Lord, are my hope.

You strengthen me by your presence 

Right. Now.

There is no chaos out of which you cannot

create entire worlds.

There is no trouble which you cannot put to rest.

There is no sickness which you cannot heal.

There is no grief which you cannot comfort.

There is no darkness capable of extinguishing your light.

You, O Lord, are my hope.

And that is enough.

Though I may experience all forms

of misery and trouble,

NEVERTHELESS!

I will hope continually,

and I will praise you more and more.

Blessed be you, indeed, O God,

Father of my Lord, Jesus Christ,

who by the power of the Holy Spirit

comes to me

and fills me with hope.

I may always wonder, O Lord, what these days mean.

But this I will always know:

You are my God. And that is enough.

Because you are my God and my Hope,

praise will ever be on my lips.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am “Praying with David,” using prayers from the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

Restore us, O God

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, 

     you who lead Joseph like a flock. 

You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, 

     shine forth before [your people]. 

Awaken your might; 

     come and save us. 

Restore us, O God; 

     make your face shine on us, 

     that we may be saved.

(Psalm 80:1-3)

We need you, O Lord.

The truth is, we always need you,

for it is in you alone

that we live and move

and have our being.

We always need you,

but sometimes the need seems

more urgent and acute to us.

Now is one of those times.

Around the world people live in fear and dread

of coronavirus COVID-19.

Invisible to the eye,

it travels from person to person

with frightening ease.

It infects, 

    debilitates,

       sometimes it kills.

COVID-19 has shut down the world.

Literally.

We really, really need you, O God.

Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,

    awaken your might, come and save us.

Please.

Have mercy, O Lord.

Especially on those who are most vulnerable:

              the elderly

        those with other health risks

             medical and health personnel

     the working parents whose children

     are now out of school

       the workers who are or who will be out of a job

   teachers and school staff 

       children, because they are ALWAYS vulnerable

      business owners who may not reopen their doors

    the poor, who have less access to health care

Have mercy, O Lord,

on all of us, on the whole world.

We pray to you, with all urgency:

   Heal the sick.

   Stop this vicious virus.

   Protect those who provide care.

   Guide our leaders with wisdom.

   Calm the anxiety in our hearts.

   Stop the panic and hoarding.

   Restore the economies of the world.

Awaken your might; come and save us.

   Cultivate compassion and kindness in our hearts.

   Show us how to reach out in love and mercy.

   Give us your peace,

   the peace that passes all understanding.

We need you, O God.

We really need you.

Restore us, O God.

Make your face to shine upon us, we pray;

   look with favor upon us – 

   upon all of us, the whole world – 

   that we will be saved.

Thank you, O Lord, in advance.

Because we know you will help us.

We know you will save us.

Thank you.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers from the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.