Psalm 62

Read this first: https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+62&version=NIV

The theme for worship today was hope. I talked with by far the realest kid I’ve talked to in a while. Emma was fantastic. You should watch the children’s message to get the gist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRaKDPjumuk

So when this came up in the reading I stood at attention.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c];
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

It doesn’t seem like there’s much hope for our nation right now and Emma felt that way. Schools have officially gone down to two days a week in the fall at best here. There’s no end at sight for getting back into our church building. Yet I have friends who think we shouldnt’ be taking any preventative measures and this is all a joke. It’s been 4 months of waiting. And it’s old. Even though it’s nothing compared to being drafted into endless wars that my father and grandpas dealt with. All we have to do is sit and eat. Not a terrible thing and with Zoom a cheap computer and my phone- worship can happen I can connect with most of my congregation in my undies. It’s sort of fantastic!

Nothing will be certain until after the election it seems like and even then no matter how that goes there will still not be much hope. I guess I feel like the country is very shaken and I feel like we left God a while ago at least in the sense of Christianity having much notable influence on politics. Now I do believe there are many Christians in name and many who believe in God in this country but I don’t see Him being called much of an influencer on people. I feel people want to influence God more than people want to be influenced by Him. Now that’s me being cynical. Let’s get to the point.

Our hope was never America. Our hope was never this world. Our hope was always Jesus. He’s the one who doesn’t change. For much of my life America seemed stable- yes things changed and grew but for the most part I was comfortable and in a sense I still am- but I doubt America will be the same after this. And maybe that’s good. I feel I’ve realized perhaps I’ve put my hope in my comfort, in my stability, in my country doing the things it’s always done. When I should put my hope in Jesus for comfort, His stability, His kingdom, not an earthly one. That’s the rock that doesn’t change on which God built up His church. Not America not my comfort, Jesus. Jesus went through very unstable times homeless, kicked out of towns, almost stoned to death, rejected by men and He says take up your cross and follow me. How is that hope? It’s hope in that it’s real. It’s hope in knowing that the storm doesn’t stop God is there holding your hand walking you through it. That’s hope.

Perhaps that’s still cynical. But I believe that God’s hand is there for us all whether we acknowledge it or not. So there is hope here too. I hope that you know that.