Once again we find ourselves grieving for families, friends, and community of victims gunned down in another school shooting. Why does this madness continue? What makes a person choose to kill children?
And then there’s the war that drags on in Ukraine, causing death, devastation, and hardship. Why do we humans resort to such horror?
Across our nation, crime, homelessness, and drug addiction plague many of our cities. How has such deterioration been allowed to escalate and why haven’t proven solutions been implemented that help correct these plights?
Also producing distress and fear are the continual reports of terrorism, riots, fraud, lawlessness, disasters, and other disturbing events.
In addition, some of you are dealing with your own overwhelming problems caused by other people and not your fault.
When God chooses not to immediately intervene, what’s a person to do? An unidentified psalmist gave us the answer.But before we consider his plan-of-action, note how current his observations sound as he described evildoers. They:
- Seem to be triumphing
- Boast a great deal
- Crush God’s people
- Band together against the righteous
- Bring misery to others with their decrees
- Condemn the innocent to death [1]
Then just before slipping into depression, this poet wrote:
He would want us to know: God provides joy-filled comfort—not just reassuring consolation. The psalmist surely had in mind solace, help, support, cheer, and restoration of a sense of well-being—all facets of comfort.
Our part is to avail ourselves. How? By walking through the G. A. T. E:
1. G = Glory in biblical truth.
Find refuge in God and His infallible Word.
Read until His peace mounts a guard
around your mind and heart and soul.
Kay Arthur [2]
Among the many comforting truths found in scripture, here are a few of my favorites:
- 1 Chronicles 29:11-13—God is great and all-powerful, the ruler of all things.
- Psalm 23:4—Our caring Shepherd never leaves us to fend for ourselves.
- Psalm 46:1—He provides refuge, strength, and help.
- Isaiah 25:1—We can count on His faithfulness because he’s been completely faithful in the past.
- Romans 11:33-36—He is continually directing, sustaining, and upholding all things in his perfect wisdom–even in the face of tragedy.
2. A = Affirm God’s promises.
As you glory in biblical truth, keep alert for the promises. Ask yourself, “Has God already done this in my life?” Take comfort in the evidence of promises already fulfilled. For example, when has he:
- Brought good out of difficult circumstances?
- Guided you in the way you should go?
- Delivered you out of trouble—physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually?
- Granted peace in the midst of turmoil?
- Provided beyond your expectations? [3]
And as you affirm the evidence of the past, be expectant for the future. What God promises, he will do [4].
3. T = Take joy in who God is.
He is a way-making, promise-keeping,
battle-winning, water-walking, storm-stilling,
Faithful Friend and Savior.
Kaitlyn Bouchillion [5]
Isn’t that delightful description? Let’s use it as a model for creating more uplifting characterization. I’ll get us started with:
He is a sin-forgiving, death-defying, hand-holding, strength-infusing, gift-giving Gracious Father.
Do you feel your heart filling with the comfort of gratitude, praise, and joy? Me too.
4. E = Enter into his presence with prayer.
Prayer crowns God with the honor and glory due His name,
and God crowns prayer with assurance and comfort.
The most praying souls are the most assured souls.
Thomas Brooks
Take comfort in knowing that:
- God is not only here, he is near.
- As we call out to him, he’s already answering.
- God’s presence quiets the soul, calms the mind, and warms the heart [6].
Decades ago, researchers recorded the heartbeats of mothers and played the tapes in a hospital nursery. They discovered that the infants cried less, slept better, and even gained weight at a better rate.
Those recordings evidently brought comfort, allowing the babies to rest and even thrive.
As we walk through the G.A.T.E. God has provided, and Glory in biblical truth, Affirm his promises, Take joy in who he is, and Enter his presence with prayer, we will hear the comforting heartbeat of God’s love, even through the darkest night.
[1] Psalm 94:2, 4, 5, 20-21.
[2] His Imprint, My Expression, 289.
[3] Genesis 50:20; Psalm 32:8; 34:18; Isaiah 26:3; Ephesians 3:20.
[4] Numbers 23:19.
[5] Take Heart, edited by Grace P. Cho and Anna E. Rendell, 210.
[6] Psalm 145:18; Isaiah 65:24; Psalm 91:1-2.
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com; http://www.commons.wikipedia.org; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.commons.wikimedia.org (Bonnie Gruenberg).
From the Inside Out 