It was the mid 1970s, I was in Junior High School and I became aware of something all of the adults were talking about in concerned tones. The Arab oil embargo was a landmark event that would bring lasting changes to the United States. The hourslong lines to get gas at the gas station brought the “muscle car era” to a sudden halt and American-made gas guzzling automobiles were being discarded in favor of fuel-efficient Japanese made automobiles that have been with us in a big way ever since. Like what we are feeling today, it was a time of uncertainty, anxiety and “shortages.”
We are again in the midst of a great change that is taking place in our world, our nation, our state and our own communities. Change will take place in every facet of our lives, how we work, how we do schooling; even the way we do church will experience lasting changes.
How are you doing with change? Change can be stressful, raise anxiety and even produce fear. We can’t help it, the unknown just produces these kinds of emotions in us. What we need in times like this is something that is stable, reliable and safe. We need to know what is true, what we can believe. In a world that hears the term “fake news,” what can we believe? Each side points the finger at the other accusing them of not being truthful. What are we to do?
At times like this, the Bible is a true source of truth, comfort and strength. The Bible has been around for centuries, through wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes and floods. It remains a source that hundreds of millions of believers around the world turn to not only for spiritual guidance, comfort and direction but it even contains practical truths for health and strength (wash your hands!).
I like Psalm 46, a typical passage that reassures us when times are uncertain. Let me share a couple of verses with you:
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Verse two is the conclusion of the matter, “Therefore we will not fear…”. God has been reliable in the past. He is reliable in our present and will remain reliable in our future. The Bible reminds us of those unfailing truths. It never changes, is never shaken and has never been untrue. I encourage you to pull out your copy of the Bible or find one online and begin to find hope, healing and faith in its pages.
