The news of the world seems very uncertain at the moment. War and climate change all around, ram raids and crime waves in New Zealand. We might see no answers to the challenges our churches are facing. We are still waiting for prayers to be answered in our families, it seems that God does not listen to us.
The Psalmist cries out; 'How long Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?' (Ps 13:1 NIV) We can relate. Yet this is where faith comes into it. A small personal metaphor; I rode my bike one lunchtime recently, the weather was grim and I got a bit wet and cold. I kept the faith that this was a good idea. I had to shelter in a shop front in a downpour. But persevering, a lap of Takapuna Beach gave me this rainbow, always a symbol of our hope in God's grace, a reminder of God's goodness.
Chris Tiegreen asks; 'So why are we surprised when God leads us down roads on which the fulfilment of His promise is invisible? If He is pleased with faith, and if faith is required to receive a promise, then the evidence of the promise has to hide for a season. Circumstances must contradict it. And we must hold on in assurance that what God has spoken is true.'
We remain a people of faith and hope.
Kommentare