Pilot Knob Lutheran Strength for Today 4/10/2024
I want us to step into the shoes of another person and look at their world through their eyes. This unnamed individual has little or no religious education; there is no God, or at best one that is absent and unknown. The world came into existence through blind chance as did all life. It has no purpose and history is simply repeating itself. Life consists of doing the best you can, doing what good you can for others and at the end of life you cease to exist.
Along the journey of life, one faces a tragedy of some kind, a situation beyond his or her control and the future looks dark. Question; where can this individual find hope to face another hour, another day or year? Where does the inner strength come from to move on and face the challenges?
Christians are no different in that we too can face tragedies or situations beyond our control. Yes, tomorrow can look daunting and dark with no confidence that tomorrow will be any different.
Our worldview includes God, our creator who loves us and died in our place. We believe based upon historical events that we will live forever with God in his kingdom. That provides a solid foundation for facing the future. Sometimes that hope seems to be a long way off and we need hope now. Then what?
Because we have a loving and personal God we can talk to Him, complain to Him, ask questions, thank Him and resign our life now and tomorrow to Him. Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Ask, seek and knock are in the present tense signifying on-going action. Keep on asking…. James 4:2b You do not have because you do not ask.
God’s presence is available now! He provides the courage, strength, wisdom, and determination to face another hour or day because we know God is in it even if we don’t ‘feel’ His presence. This doesn’t mean the pain and discouragement will be replaced with happiness and the problem removed. It means God is with us to see us through the pain and problems. Phil 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Our hope does not come from this present world, it comes from another ‘world,’ the Kingdom of God. He is our current hope, security, and truth about life.
Don’t give up on God when you are at the end of your rope, hang on to His outstretched hand through prayer and His Word.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Today: 3:45 Confirmation class.
Thursday 11, 10:00 Quilting
Sunday 14, 9:00 AM Morning worship service. Sermon: Walking in the Light of the Word
Sunday April 21, 2:00 GriefShare #12. Please tell others. For more information go to:
https://www.griefshare.org/findagroupor contact Pr. Bob or Sue Reese.
~ Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran/
