remind yourself over and over…

when you are going through a crisis, first you refocus on the fact that HE’s close to you – HE’s here – and HE cares.  and relax in that truth.

psalm 112.6-8 (living bible), the believer will not be overthrown by evil circumstances.  GOD’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it.  he does not fear bad news nor live in dread of what may happen for he has settled in his mind that GOD will take care of him.  that is why he is not afraid but can calmly face his foes. two key words there, constant and calmly.

he’s saying that when you go through a crisis, you need to remind yourself over and over that GOD cares about what you’re going through.  just say it over and over, “GOD is close and GOD cares.” 

notice it says when he relaxes in GOD’s care, he does not fear bad news.

there is a lot of bad news in the world today.  any time there is a disaster in the world, the media announces it instantly.  you can’t get away from it.  a plane has gone down, a hostage has been taken, a gunman has gone berserk, somebody else has got cancer, an earthquake has occurred, a poisonous gas has spilled, somebody killed in iraq.  any time there’s a crisis anywhere they’ll break into tv programs and say, “we bring you this special bulletin.” 

the point that i’m making is that we receive much more negative input than people did fifty years ago and that has created a high level of fear in our society.  it says the person who seeks GOD’s constant care and relaxes in it, does not fear bad news.  it says he can calmly face whatever happens.  calmly means he’s relaxed. why is he relaxed?  the calmness comes from relaxing in GOD’s closeness and GOD’s care. 

i want to point out one other thing.  there was one thing the disciples did do right in this situation when an unexpected storm came up.  when they became afraid they talked to JESUS about it.  it says, “when they were afraid they came to the LORD and said, ‘don't you care?’”  they went right to the source.  they did not pray to saint christopher or to mary.  they did not bring out a good luck charm.  they didn’t have a crystal.  they did not repeat a bunch of ritual prayers. they talked directly to GOD.  HE’s the only one who could do anything about it.  they went straight to JESUS.  none of those other things will help.  go to the source.

just a thought from the front porch…