“O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals1 that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God,1 and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8 (NRS)
It was early fall in the Adirondacks. Upstate New York was dressed in glistening beauty. Joel hiked through the pristine mountains almost oblivious to the landscape. The sun was descending rapidly through the trees toward the horizon beyond. It was an orange blaze that gave the leaves a bursting, vibrant glow.
Joel, however, couldn’t shake the clutter of his life from his mind. He was missing the beauty and calm of the place and didn’t know why. His vacation was drawing to an end and he didn’t relish returning to the stress and problems at home. As the Senior Pastor at his church, he constantly carried the burden of responsibility for his flock. The recent death of his supportive wife had left him with intense grief and the daunting task of parenting two teens alone.
There in the center of a pristine glade, the grief-stricken husband knelt and prayed. “O, God, please sustain me with your grace and fill my life with the peace of your presence.”
As he sat on a nearby rock in silence, his grief and loneliness overwhelmed him. Then upon the breath of the forest a still, small repeated the words of Psalm 8 in his ears. Suddenly, the sun stood still and the colors of the tree leaves glistened with renewed energy, dancing in time as the mountains sang of peace to Joel’s soul. His spirit soared as he lifted his hands in unending praise to God.
Joel remembered one more time that stress and problems are realities of our lives and life never falls into perfect order. Despite that, he was still important to God. The Scripture had made the connection for him.
Dear Father, thank you for the grace of your comfort and peace. Empower us to connect with you through your Word. By your Spirit, enable us to deal with the realities of this life with confident hope. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for our struggles and persevere in hope,
Pastor Smith