Rev. Chism's Weekly Message

"Be still, and know that I am God!" - Psalm 46:1

Waiting for something to happen can be difficult. I remember when I was interviewing for my first job. About a month after I graduated from college, I was blessed to have three interviews to put my Management Information Systems degree to work. Anxiety increased because it took two weeks for things to fall into place. Two weeks is really not that long but it felt like forever.

One of the companies would hire another person with more experience. Another decided to delay hiring me or another person because of changes in the leadership. The third company gave me a call on a Friday and offered me the job. It was over and I was able to relax and look forward to a new and exciting season beginning. Let me say again, the wait was excruciating.

Waiting and God go hand in hand. The oft used Psalm 46:1 has popped into my head a lot lately. We are all waiting for the results of the Presidential Election as a I type these words. Many that I speak to are riddled with anxiety. Some are more patient and can handle the wait a little better. Unless we are not directly involved with the decision process, we do not have control over the process and others. There is one person we do have control over. Ourselves.

What can God teach us about patience and "being still" and patience?

Psalm 46 is an eleven-verse song written for a chief musician. To me the psalm is very much about the providential nature of God. Many give our Lutheran friends credit for providential theology. The psalmist is celebrating that God is still God in times of trouble. We hear from the writer that God is in control of nature and maintains the balance of Creation that seems chaotic to us from time to time. The writer also notes that when nations are at war God can intervene as God chooses and change the course. The psalm reminds us that when things seem out of control in life, we must be patient and see what God does.

Jesus wasn't always patient. The last week of His life Jesus cleansed the Temple from vendors taking advantage of people during the Feast of Passover. This was an important example. It is recorded in all four gospels. Why is this important? Impatience is a part of life. This action by Jesus was different. It was the last week of Jesus' life on earth and God intervened during great challenges with the gift of Resurrection.

That's how it works. You "be still" and wait on God. Many moons had passed before God fulfilled prophecies and sent his only Son. Years and years passed but people still prayed and lived life. They still had hope. And then it happens.

What does patience lead to in life? We can learn a lot about ourselves in the stillness of God. It can build trust that things turn out as they turn out. Also, we can grow in love of God and of people as well. Patience can lead to great changes in our world.

One day Paul sat down and penned a letter to the Corinthian Church. We think it was the first letter he wrote to them. Part of the letter talks about the gift of love. Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians reminds us that love is patient. It can bear a lot of things. And again, one part of patience and "being still" is love. Love of God, love of people that let us down, and love of ourselves can come from the stillness God can give.

Paul also was inspired to say that love "endures." This is important. Being still requires endurance. If things don't go our way, it doesn't mean it is going to last forever. It will happen when it happens.

Let's look around and acknowledge what God is doing in our lives and around us. Being still doesn't mean things aren't happening. It just means God is putting the building blocks into place. God is always in action in our patience...and impatience.

Stay Safe,

Rev. Baxter