May 25, 2022

“a time to weep…; a time to mourn….” (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

I really do not want to write a blog today since I cannot ignore the massacre of little children in a Texas elementary school yesterday, nor the necessary and grievous release of a report chronicling sexual abuse by certain leaders and pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention, nor the grinding destruction of the war in Ukraine. Is there something that I need to write to you that would actually help you? If there was, then I would, but I doubt that anything I write would add much value to the conversation. With that in view, would you pray? Would you pray with me?

“O Lord, you are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evil threatens to overwhelm me, I know that in the end evil will not win. Even though I feel surrounded and even threatened by so much collateral damage from sin, yet I can still be confident that, one day, I will dwell in your house forever. I will gaze upon your beauty and be hidden in your shelter and concealed in your tent. The sins of your enemies will be dealt with. Even those who abuse their trust by saying good things publicly yet perpetuating evil privately will be revealed. Those who abuse the power of their office to inflict horrors upon other peoples and nations will one day be stripped of all influence and be revealed and judged for what they are. Remind me of this, O Lord. Teach me your way. Lead me on a level path. I know that I will look upon your goodness in the land of the living. Therefore, I will preach to myself to wait, be strong, take courage, and again, wait.”

Based loosely upon Psalm 27

There is no shortage of evil. By God’s grace, let us help make certain that there is no shortage of prayer.

Grace and hope (even in grief),

Bob

Sunday’s text: 1 Samuel 17:31-40