Easy Times or Hard Times

Psalm 144:15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.

We are indeed blessed, beyond our understanding I think. This Psalm basically says that we are the people whose God is the Lord, no matter what is happening to us or around us. In victory or adversity, easy or hard times, we are still God's people. What could possibly happen to me or you that would change that? Like this Psalm says, we are just a breath and our days are like a fleeting shadow. Though that is true, God cares so deeply for us to provide for our needs and to touch our hearts. He alone is... like it says in verse 2, our fortress, our stronghold, our shield and our deliverer. I know hard times come and go and that our lives can be upside down in a moment. That doesn't change the truth though, God is still worthy of our newest song, like it says in verse 9, and the one we should cast our cares on.

David knew trouble. He was both a victim and sometimes his own worst enemy. He knew this and made no excuses for his wrong choices and behaviors. He wrestled and doubted and whether victorious or beset by calamity, at the bottom line he trusted God. In the midst of some of his darkest hours he pens some of the most faith inspiring words of praise and thanks to God. When the going gets tough it doesn't mean that God is not there, it means only that times are tough, but so are we, because the one and only Lord God Almighty is our God. Nothing can separate us from the love and care of God.

Sometimes following the Thanksgiving holiday, after the tummy aches and bloated feelings subside, we are left with an empty feeling. I think more of this is physiological than psychological most of the time. But hey, it is pretty real. After the break and all the festivities and hoopla we must get back to the everyday grind and that is not often easy. We are left with feelings of comparative meaninglessness and can let the doldrums begin to set in. We are the same people of God when we buy the turkey, prepare the turkey, cook the turkey, carve the turkey, eat the turkey, eat turkey leftovers and burn out on turkey casseroles and sandwiches and soup. We all ride the rollercoaster’s of life and we go up and we go down. God doesn't change, He is there to receive the grateful praise of our ups and there to console our hurting hearts when we go down. We will be just fine if we will remember to hang on to God for the whole ride.

Many blessings on you and yours, Pastor Fred

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