Wednesday, March 16, 2016

To Face the World

Sometimes I want to hide away in a quiet corner, far from news reports, political distresses, moral confusion, celebrations of sin, and input from a world going mad. Sometimes I simply want to close the blinds on windows and grilles.

But Our Lord has not called me to live inside a physical enclosure. In our cloistered heart analogy, the "symbol" is grillwork... not brick walls. 

"The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the just man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

What is my strong tower? Not stonework. That would be much too fragile. Stones are subject to crumbling. The Name of the Lord is not.  
I am not called to flee from the world. I'm called to face it, day after day after day, but I do not have to do so unaided. I am called to relate to the world through the will of God. I can pray for the world, and deal with every situation and every person I encounter or even hear of, through the "grillwork" of the will of God.  I can run to Our Lord and I can remain in Him.  

As I cling to Jesus, He gives me all I need to face the world.

"We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his decree." (Romans 8:28)
 
'We are afflicted in every way possible, but we are not crushed; full of doubts, we never despair.  We are persecuted but never abandoned; we are struck down but never destroyed.' (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)


'You are my shelter; from distress you keep me.  With safety, You ring me around.' (Psalm 32:7)


'God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Thus we do not fear, though the earth be shaken and the mountains quake to the depths of the sea; though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The Lord of hosts is with us.  Our stronghold is the God of Jacob.' (Psalm 46:2-4)
Reconciled To You and Theology Is A Verb  
 


     

Photo via Pixabay

2 comments:

  1. Thank you, Nancy - a much needed post in a "world going mad". I try not to let it get to me but it does at times. I need to be reminded that God is in charge and is our refuge. Always.

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    Replies
    1. I need every reminder I can get, Mary, every moment of every day. Thank God, He understands and has mercy on us!

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