“Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, my soul.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.”
Psalm 146:1-6
The world is a beautiful place.
The world is a scary place.
When I turn on the news, I see people in respected positions behaving like toddlers. All the people. Not just one political party or another. Then, I scan social media hoping for a sense of connection and inspiration from my community. Instead, I observe negativity, bickering, and malice.
There is so much fear.
Fear of illness. Fear of loss of rights. Fear of change. Fear of lack of change.
“Unprecedented.” This is a word that we have heard a lot of the past few months. And yet, King Solomon, in all his wisdom, reminds us that, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9
Solomon’s words are as true today as they were 1,000 years before the birth of Christ. Pandemic, illness, and physical suffering are nothing new. Power struggles, war, and greed have been a part of the human story since the beginning of time. Dissension, controversy, and cruelty have accompanied our journey throughout history. Humans have looked to leaders who were wise, trustworthy, and honest. They have also toiled under the leadership of those who were selfish, arrogant, corrupt, and wicked.
Praise the Lord; we don’t rely solely on the wisdom and integrity of other humans. Because the other constancy throughout time is the presence of our God and Creator.
Praise the Lord; I can turn off the news, drop to my knees, and speak directly to the Almighty God. He sits on His throne in goodness, power, and love. There are some trials in life that He allows us to walk through. However, He does not leave us to walk alone. Furthermore, we have the reassurance that He is the one who is ultimately in power and perfect control.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations 1:8
Praise the Lord; I can shut down my social media, open my Bible, and read life-giving words that are affirming and encouraging. I can reach out to a trusted friend to share my heart and receive a dose of much-needed hope and cheer. I can call my 94-year-old grandma and be inspired by this sweet lady who finds purpose and beauty each day despite being quarantined in her apartment for nearly five months. I can get outside for a walk and see God’s magnificent hand in the colors, textures, and creativity of nature.
There is much to praise God for. The beauty of His creation surrounds me. I do not put my hope in humans, but I rejoice in the humans God has placed in my life who are wise, kind, and hopeful.
My hope is in the Lord, our God. He is forever faithful.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Dear Lord, Thank you for your presence as we walk through challenging times. Thank you that nothing that is happening in our world is a surprise to You. Nothing is too big, too hard, or too impossible for You. Thank you for your gift of beauty that brings joy, calm, and peace. Thank you for the human beings around us that speak comfort, encouragement, and goodness into our lives. Amen.