Hope for Hard Times
(Pastor Ken is away on vacation this week, so here's a "re-run" of his ePistle blog from eleven years ago today, Oct. 18, 2013. It's a good reminder, as we face an election day in a few weeks, that the more things change, the more they stay the same!)
All of the recent political shenanigans in Washington, and the daily discussions on the news about government shutdowns, debt ceilings and rising healthcare costs, have brought to the forefront how very fragile our nation's economy really is. Some of us have received notice in the past week or so of exaggerated increases in our health insurance for the coming year, and we have no idea how we're going to make things work. All in all, there seems to be a constant wave of fear and despair flowing across our land as we face our financial future.
These are certainly uncertain times. Let me tell you how bad it is. The economy is so bad...
Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.
Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.
A picture is now worth 200 words.
They renamed Wall Street "Wal-Mart Street."
Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America.
I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
And, the Treasure Island casino in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.
Sometimes you have to laugh a little to keep from crying. I don't even think I remember this much negativity and anxiety about the future when the economy bottomed out a few years back, during the "Great Recession." And it's not hard to "do the math" and see that our elected officials are simply pushing the inevitable day of reckoning a little farther ahead into the future every time they try to appease their constituencies instead of making the difficult choices required to govern our land.
I would by lying if I didn't admit that sometimes I get very anxious about what is to come in our nation, economically, in the decade ahead. But then I remember that my security does not rest in Wall Street or Washington, not in Republicans or Democrats. My future is not based on my bank account or 401K, and my health is not dependent on someone's plan for healthcare, whether it be private sector or government sponsored.
That does not mean that things will always be comfortable, for never in Scripture are we promised comfort, only conformity to the image of Christ. I don't doubt that there will be many hard times ahead, but those hard times will only provide opportunity to grow our faith and hope in Christ, and to share His light in the darkness.
The hymn writer said it so well: "My hope is built on nothing else, but Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."
So take heart, faith family, no matter what you might hear on the news, the Lord has not descended the throne and He is still very much in control. And in case you needed reminding, He can be trusted.
I am praying for you, as I trust you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
--Pastor Ken
