post and photo collage by June Friesen 2021,
Psalm 91 is my go-to Psalm when I am in the midst of a struggle. It has been the Psalm that I go to if and when I have to get up during the night and once again this past week, it was the Psalm that I have read. Let me read it to you.
1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: ‘God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!’
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16 ‘If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,”’says God,
‘I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!’
When I was in British Columbia, my sister-in-law (Dorothy) gave me a book of daily meditations as an early 70th birthday present (this was 2018) and I chose to start reading it from the date that she gave it to me. I do not think that was an accident. The readings have been about change.
Change happens – yes, 10/29/18 caused a shift in focus – what may be – or what may not be – one never knows for sure.
One is encouraged to continue to live – to live and embrace the moment as I love to say – –
So, when a shift happens – move with that shift –
Move is change –
Move is good –
Move is growth –
Move is – well sometimes move is a metamorphosis –
And one is born into a new life.
(Such as the worm/caterpillar is wrapped in darkness for days/weeks before emerging into that beautiful butterfly).
So – it may be a place of darkness for one – for self – for many –
It may be a place of death –
For someone, something or self or many –
It may be a place of birth –
For someone, something or self or many –
It may be a place of change(s) –
For someone, something, for self or others –
It may be a place of light
For someone, something, self or others –
Change – sometimes welcomed but usually not so much –
Change – one known reality is this –
God does not change.
However –
He allows change –
And could it be that because so long ago, humankind chose to change God’s original plan and do things their own way? (Genesis 3)
C – Challenge
H – Huge
A – Analyzing
N – Negotiable (or not so much)
G – Growth
E – Expected
The disciples faced change over the three years they walked with Jesus. The challenge of change became rather radical in about the last 45 days of Jesus’ earthly life. He was their earthly leader. Somehow, someway they struggled through – Gethsemane, the betrayal, the denial, the arrest and trial of their leader, the crucifixion, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection….Jesus tried to also prepare them for His ascension back to heaven. They struggled to find their way through this change – trying to be obedient yet hesitant, fearful, denying, – and probably many other feelings/reactions.
Today I struggle with my feelings –
Vulnerability –
Powerlessness –
Brokenness –
Yet my hope is in God.
What are you struggling with today? This week? What has been the change you have encountered in this past month, year, or recent years? What change may you not yet be aware of – yet that is often thought worrying needlessly and I tend to agree. May I encourage each one of us to place ourselves in the Spirit’s presence in times of uncertainty as well as certainty? Some things we know will change as the season changes and we embrace them. Life is like that too, there are seasonal changes. Birth, toddler, teenage, young adult, maturing adult, aging adult….
God – please come and hold my hand today. There is uncertainty in the air around me. It causes uncertainty to rise within my spirit at times too. As I walk hand in hand with you let me feel your security so that I can embrace each moment as it comes. Amen.
Join us live on September 25, 2021 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (check my timezone) or later for the recording for this virtual retreat hosted by Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin.