“V” is for “eVening, morning, and noon…”

by BetsyFaithPosted on No Comments

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”–Psalm 55:17

When a tree falls in the forest, and there isn’t anyone around to hear it, does it actually make a noise? This rhetorical question prompts us to ponder some deeper thoughts than we might typically consider. It reminds me of this verse in Psalm 55; when I pray and yet I don’t see any movement in a situation, should I ask if God is listening? Sometimes when life gets overwhelming, I start to live like God doesn’t hear my prayers or care about my situation when in reality, I know He does. I have to constantly revisit this truth: It doesn’t matter what time of day or night I cry out; He hears me.

In this chapter, David refers to the fact that he has suffered a betrayal, and not from a known enemy, which would not be surprising, but from someone to whom he was close–a dear friend, perhaps. This fact changes the entire dynamic of the betrayal. David is calling out to God for justice; he asks that those who have perpetrated wickedness against him be punished. In this verse, he is acknowledging that God hears him whenever and wherever he prays. It is a declaration that despite the pain of this betrayal, God is always present and available and so incredibly much more than any earthly relationship can ever provide.

Speaking truth not only to those around us, but also to ourselves is one of the most powerful ways to break the hold of destructive thoughts. It is easy to fall into the traps of doubt, denial, and self-pity when we disregard the truths that we should be standing on. I am writing to myself here. I can’t even number the times I have detoured down a road of living under an assumption that just because I don’t see God moving, He isn’t concerned with what is happening. Matthew 10:30 states that He knows the number of hairs on our heads; what a poetic way of saying that God cares about even the smallest of details in our lives! Speak the truth to yourself and pray with the confidence that this line from the song “Waymaker” so simply states: “even when I don’t see it, You’re working.”

Expiration dates

by BetsyFaithPosted on No Comments

When “normal” gets flipped on edge and then flipped again, it’s difficult to tell which way is up.

The concept of normal has been rewritten for all of us–it is nearly unheard of that we can all share the same event, especially at the same time. Though our individual experiences will vary, we are going through this disruption of “normal” together. Such common scenes on television as people enjoying a meal in a crowded restaurant or a packed audience on an awards show have begun to look strange and even unacceptable. When “normal” gets flipped on edge and then flipped again, it’s difficult to tell which way is up.

God wasn’t blindsided by this.

On March 3rd, a tornado ravaged the area where I live and decimated the school where I work. We praise God for the fact that it occurred at night and not during the school day. Although this colossal event wreaked enough havoc in itself, there was always hope–God wasn’t blindsided by this. He had already been working in peoples’ lives in the midst and all around the effects of this ordeal. People from all walks of life had stepped up to volunteer their time and resources to make what needed to happen take place. Several venues were lined up for us to resume school after the break, but then, plans had to be changed again with the attempts to quarantine the virus. Teacher training was then altered to include groups smaller than ten. And now, everyone is working from home, teaching and troubleshooting tech issues via text and email and occasional video conference. 

Waves of hopelessness and disappointment have nearly drowned me in the past.

Spending my days alone in a room day after day, I find that I have to be on constant defense against all of the negative thoughts that can creep in if I allow them. Waves of hopelessness and disappointment have nearly drowned me in the past. Looking at the impact on both the lives of individuals and the global economy, it’s hard to even imagine what the world will look like when the dust settles. In my old normal, I could usually focus on the goal or the end of the ordeal. When there is no concrete date of conclusion and uncertainty rules, it’s rather overwhelming to keep facing each day. 

“When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.”

In Ephesians 6:14, we are charged to “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” So what truths do I cling to? In Psalm 75:3, the Lord says, “When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.” Do I trust that He is in control? Or was my trust in the familiarity of “normal” that had lulled me into complacency? The whole earth is quaking; nothing is going to be as it was before. Yet, I have a peace that lives in the realm of the unexplained. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I have to go to Him for that peace multiple times a day, and He always obliges. 

I’ve never wanted sour milk so badly in my life. 

Occasionally in the past, I had taken note of grocery expiration dates in relation to looking forward to an event, like “that will be close to Christmas” or “spring will be here by then.” I went to the grocery store about ten days ago, and I found myself evaluating the expiration dates on the milk, wondering if this would all be over by the time the milk soured. I’ve never wanted sour milk so badly in my life.