Message for September 27, 2020

Just a few days ago the calendar flipped and we went from summer to autumn. Before that happened I noticed leaves falling to the ground, and since that time we have had above normal temperatures. Autumn or fall is the time for leaves to start falling and temperatures to do the same; but there were strange things happening. It didn’t seem to follow our normal pattern of things.

This reminded me of the passage of scripture where God says, my ways are not your ways.

As life marches along I have found this to be true over and over again, and am becoming more and more comfortable with this truth, or at least more resigned to this truth.

Why?

Because I have also realized that God’s ways are perfect and my ways most certainly are not, no matter how hard I try. And as much as we sometimes try to make sense of things they still might not make sense.

As we continue to weather the Covid pandemic and are now moving into phase 2, we have asked many questions, and things just don’t seem right. However, I believe that God has used this time in profound ways. It doesn’t seem right that we still cannot meet in-person at church, but I know of many people who have been growing in their personal walk through very intentional time with God. More intentional because of a need, a need that could have been seen as simply an inconvenience, an interruption, or one that could have demonstrated our profound need of God and therefore a drawing closer to HIM. Scripture assures us in James, that if we draw closer to God He will draw closer to us.

As 2020 has taken many by surprise remember Isaiah 55 which also says my thoughts are not your thoughts, and as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

This can bring us great hope when we consider in all of our earthly and human ways that God is in control and even when we don’t fully understand things we can still trust Him with every daily situation.

Please be encouraged by the lyrics of one of my current favourite songs which encompasses so many of the situations we are all going through.

I Have This Hope

As I walk this great unknown

Questions come and questions go

Was there purpose for the pain?

Did I cry these tears in vain?

I don’t want to live in fear

I want to trust that You are near

Trust Your grace can be seen

In both triumph and tragedy

I have this hope

In the depth of my soul

In the flood or the fire

You’re with me and You won’t let go

But sometimes my faith feels thin

Like the night will never end

Will You catch every tear

Or will You just leave me here?

But I have this hope

In the depth of my soul

In the flood or the fire

You’re with me and You won’t let go

So, whatever happens I will not be afraid

Cause You are closer than this breath that I take

You calm the storm when I hear You call my name

I still believe that one day I’ll see Your face

I have this hope

If we can trust Him with the things that both bless us and baffle us and remember that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours we too can have the hope spoken of in the lyrics of this song.

Draw close to HIM!

Greg Armstrong