1I look up at the vast size of the mountains – from where will my help come in times of trouble?
2 The Eternal Creator of heaven and earth and these mountains will send the help I need. 3 He holds you firmly in place; He will not let you fall. He who keeps you will never take His eyes off you and never drift off to sleep. 4 What a relief! The One who watches over Israel never leaves for rest or sleep. 5 The Eternal keeps you safe, so close to Him that His shadow is a cooling shade to you. 6 Neither bright light of sun nor dim light of moon will harm you. 7 The Eternal will keep you safe from all of life’s evils, 8 From your first breath to the last breath you breathe, from this day and forever. Psalm 121 (The Voice)
So, I have decided to begin another paint-by-number painting. It’s a delightful picture of daisies (one of my favorite flowers) against a blue sky. As I was setting up, I was reminded of what was said to me once.
This person was a Presbyterian Minister, nice guy, very self-assured and witty. I had met him at a 2-year program I was attending. After having a couple of sessions (each a week long) we all were told that this pastor had had a stroke. As sad and tragic as that is, we heard that he planned on finishing the 6 sessions that were left. When he came back, it was clear that his right side had been affected by the stroke. His joy for life, wit, humor was still very clear, what had changed was there was no holding back on what he said to you, and I remember that with a smile on my face. I am giving you this background to lead up to what he said to me.
While we were in class listening to the speakers he would sit in the back of the room water color painting as therapy. One morning he was painting a picture that I really liked. I told him so and then said I can’t seem to paint with watercolors, I just get this watery mess. He looked straight in my eyes and said “you have to give up control!” Whomp there it is! After I swallowed hard I began to laugh, I said “ok God, I’m listening.” And I haven’t forgotten.
There is so much that we all wish we could control right now and we can’t, but what we can do is our part to help. At the end of the day we can offer up all our anxiety, our worries, our fears to the God who made heaven and earth. I pray to the One who placed the stars in the cosmos and who keeps the planets spinning around the sun and holds all my loved ones close. I am comforted each night and in the morning when I start each day by knowing that God is in control and I am not. Thanks be to God! Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future. Faith is the courage to dance to it today.
Holy God, thank for being in control of all the unknown. Comforting God, thank you for loving us beyond our deepest and wildest imagination. May we find comfort and rest in your arms each day until the end of time. Amen.
Blessings,
Brenda