Several times, since I began writing this blog, I have included text written by Jan Schmidt, a dear friend and member of our church. Today will be one of those blogs. Jan writes daily devotions and sends them out via email to her friends and I save them all. I often refer back to them for inspiration. Jan wrote this last fall (my thoughts are interspersed in blue text):
Living in Difficult Times
Living as we do in a world saturated with sin, tough times are no stranger to any of us. (Tough times — we view the pandemic as “tough times” and I love how Jan brings my focus back to the real issue, which is sin!) How do we survive? How shall we then live — truly live? Habakkuk observes, Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth (Habakkuk 1:3b-4a). It sounds like he is talking about the 21st century. When God answers him, He has two things to say:
First — wait. We want God to act now, on our schedule. But more often than not, God’s clock and ours are in different time zones. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay (Habakkuk 2:3b).
Second — faith. the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4b). Faith is not in what is seen but in God who acts both within and outside of our vision.
The psalmist has similar advice. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:8).
Paul, likewise, encourages Timothy, I know whom I have believed (2 Timothy 1:12a). He lived what he preached. Paul operated, not out of a spirit of fear, but of faith, power, love, and self-control.
Finally, in the Gospel of Luke we are encouraged to forgive one another, even seven times in one day! We are told that even the tiniest bit of faith, like the grain of mustard seed, is enough to do what we may feel are impossible things.
So as we go about this day let’s remember that our difficult times are a direct result of sin. Our hope lies in Christ. Let’s wait on the Lord, trusting His schedule. Difficult times are a part of this world but we won’t just survive, we will thrive because Jesus said, “But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). That says it all. Thanks, Jan!
Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,
Debbie
