It has been a difficult week for our country, which brings with it a level of fear. I found myself relating to Asaph in the Psalms as I saw all that was going on. I wanted to be beg God “do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.” (Psalm 83:1) Faith does keep us from getting overwhelmed in these things, but we still find ourselves navigating many emotions. Faith allows us to look to God instead of the circumstances because God is not limited by anything. Asaph in Psalm 83 is begging God to do something. Please, God, please do not be silent. Please act on our behalf. Please show up and intervene. Please. He has faith in God, but he is really, really scared. But Asaph does what we should do when we start to get anxious – He went right to God.
God has never lost sight of the world He loves
As it turns out, Asaph has every reason to be afraid. The enemies were creating a loud and disturbing uproar. That sounds a little familiar, doesn't it? It is like the constant pounding of waves against the sand on a beach. It seems they are never far away and ready to beat up the people of God again. We look at events in cities across this country and we can very easily start to feel the same types of fear. When will it stop? When will it happen to someone I love? But let us not forget who our God really is! If God is God, what do we have to fear? And still, if God is God, how do we respond? Asaph tells us this as well in Psalm 83. “Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”
Do not stop asking God that all would know He is God. Do not let fear keep you from getting on your knees. We cannot lose the passion for reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ. We cannot throw our hands up and say “oh well.” There is an urgent need for hearts to know Jesus and for the world to see Him in us.
We grieve in these days because of the way people are treating other people. We long for the violence to stop and for people to come together. Yes, it seems like there is no hope for change. But do not panic. Do not fear. God is still on His throne and He can do anything. Now is the time for us to pray and lead in love, grace, and with the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. Politics won’t save us. Social media pictures won’t do anything for us. Nothing we come up with will change the hearts of man. Only God can do that. Will you pray? God has not lost sight of the world He loves.