Trust Not Disgrace

Posted on by korgrocker

“O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.”
Psalm 25:1-3 NLT

David starts Psalm 25 with a declaration of intent, that he has given his life to God. This is something that all believers must do, but only rarely do we hear this in a testimony. The Apostle Paul was very clear about his commitment to God; in Philippians 1:1a, Paul introduces himself, “This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. …“. A slave is someone who belongs to another and who puts his master’s needs above his own. Jude said the same in Jude 1:1a, “This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ …”. Those early apostles knew the importance of giving their lives to God because there is no other way of faith. We talk about being “sold out for Jesus” but do we really know what that means and the impact it will have on our lives? Paul did, and we read about what it meant for him in 2 Corinthians 11:23 and the following verses. “Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again”. Of course, not everyone will be asked to make the sacrifices that Paul did, but giving our lives to Jesus is a necessary part of discipleship. Paul wrote, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1). 

The KJV translation of Psalm 25:1 reads, “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul“. In some ways this perhaps gives the impression that in the lifting up of our souls, we still have hold of them, able to take them back when the lifting has been completed. But that is not what David intended, and he devoted his life totally to God. When we devote our lives to Jesus, we also trust Him to know what is best for us. Don Moen wrote a song some years ago and the chorus goes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey“. We used to sing it. We felt the warm glow inside. But what happened on Monday morning? Giving our lives to the Lord and trusting Him with them is a big ask, but one that we need to consider and apply if we’re going to be true disciples and followers of the Master. 

David, however, asked for something in response to his commitment and trust in the Lord. He asked Him to keep him from disgrace. David was probably once again in a perilous place, with his enemies around him looking for an opportunity to boast about how they had overcome him or how they had made him look stupid, undermining him before his people. So a simple prayer flowed from his pen to God – he wrote “my God”, perhaps emphasising the personal relationship that he had with the Lord. But we pilgrims have enemies, as David did. Peter warned us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour”. Note that this may not be a direct attack but one that could be routed through his earthly assistants, who we will find whenever we do something bold and significant for Jesus. The Bible on our desk in the office may invite a sarcastic comment or two. A public testimony will invite threats and abuse. And we must always be aware that once we have come out as a Christian, those around us, confronted by the Holy Spirit living in us, will look for opportunities to make us objects of disgrace. But David was certain that no-one who trusts in the Lord will ever be disgraced. And neither will we, as we stand firm and see God work in whatever situation is confronting us.

David wrote, “disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others”. That is what will happen to those who try and accuse us and rejoice over our defeat. There is always that temptation for us to respond to the cutting remarks and abuse of others within our own strength, but we remember what Jesus said to His disciples, and to us by extension. “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said” (Luke 12:11-12). So when we are facing those who confront our faith, we must pause for a moment and wait for the Holy Spirit’s answer. It will come, as we trust in the Lord. He will never allow us to be disgraced. 

Father God. We know that we try to hang onto our lives and live them on our terms. But today we repent and commit ourselves to You once again, and put our trust in You, the One who is worthy of all the praise and all the worship. Amen.

Better Times

Posted on by korgrocker

“Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
Psalm 4:6-8 NLT

Human beings always want more. Materialistic demands dominate many people’s lives, and they take on more debt to get a better house or car, clothes or some nice but non-essential trinket. Social-scale-climbing drives some people to extraordinary lengths to tick the necessary boxes. And then at the other end of the scale there are those who have very little. Single mums in sub-standard accommodation. An old lady in a cold and draughty house that is too large for her, with heating bills unaffordable on a state pension. A benefits-funded family blighted by sickness and unable to work, with children clamouring for all the nice things their peers enjoy. But whether they are “have’s” or “have-not’s”, they all look for “better times”.

At the time David wrote this Psalm, the economy was largely based on farming, a subsistence existence prone to natural disasters. And in hard times, the cry “Who will show us better times” would dominate their world. 

David wrote that there is a better way. Focussing on the immediate issues of life, envying those around them who seemingly had a better, well-supplied existence, with “abundant harvests of grain and new wine”, was perhaps not the way to achieve a satisfied state of living. Instead of looking to the Lord for the source of their peace and well-being, they laid awake at night worrying about where the next meal would come from. And David put his finger on the issue that so many, both in his culture, and today, stumble over. We must indeed look to God to supply our needs, giving us peaceful nights’ sleeps, and keeping us safe. 

Jesus taught us, as recorded in Matthew 6:25-27, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”. He went on to say, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33). 

Are we pilgrims looking for “better times”? We need look no further than God Himself. In Him we will find times that are the best.

Dear Father God. You provide for Your children every day, and we look to You for all we need, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Thank You. Amen.

Answer Me, God!

Posted on by korgrocker

“Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 4:1 NLT

What sort of relationship do we have with God? Do we bow and scrape before a holy God, afraid to speak out of turn in case we get zapped by a Heavenly lightning bolt? Are we fearful of a God who we perceive as being a cosmic policeman, wielding a truncheon, stern and unforgiving, never approachable as a friend? Is God to us a benign and detached elderly figure with a long white beard, leaning over the banisters of Heaven and observing what is going on in the world and in our lives, but never interfering much, if at all? Is our God someone we plead with when we experience troubles and problems? Or is our approach to God like that of David’s, robust and fearless, sure of his relationship with His Lord?

David knows that his sins are forgiven and he is innocent, so he demands from God, His loving Father, an answer to his prayers for freedom from his “troubles” and for God to have “mercy” upon him. God of course has mercy on us sinful men and women; if He hadn’t then there would have been no human race. Everyone deserves judgement and punishment for their sinful ways. God provides time for men and women to come in repentance to His Son, and be declared innocent before Him. But freedom from “troubles”? Can God answer that prayer? Will a convicted criminal, who prays that prayer be immediately released from prison? Will a child who breaks a school window in a fit of rage be forgiven from the consequent “trouble”? Freedom from troubles, just in response to a prayer, no matter how heart felt? Be assured, we live in a moral universe and punishment for our sins will happen either in this world or the next.

If we live God’s way, then our propensity for experiencing “troubles” will reduce. Psalm 19:7-8, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living”. So a prayer for freedom from troubles will be answered, not by an immediate release from the consequences of our bad choices and behaviour, but by a formula for living a life in a way that will avoid most troubles in the first place. 

The kingdoms of Light and darkness are colliding more frequently these days, and troubles for God’s children are on the increase. But our Heavenly Father is there with us declaring us innocent as we follow His ways.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your loving kindness and mercy, that follows us, even pursues us, every day of our lives. Amen.

Absolutely No Idea

Posted on by korgrocker

“When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.”
John 13:27-30 NLT

By this time, the disciples must have been reeling from events that were totally unexpected. First of all, Jesus warned them of His impending death, and the way it would be carried out. Matthew 26:2, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” The Passover meal that Jesus ate with His disciples two days later included the event of the bread and wine, as recorded in the other Gospels. Matthew 26:26-28, “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many”. During the meal, Jesus also said, “ … I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me” (Matthew 26:21b). And then, after the meal, we have the account of Jesus washing their feet. Then, events moving on quickly – Jesus told Judas to, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do”. It seemed that the disciples had absolutely no idea about what was happening, but they would understand much later.

Having been around Jesus for three years or so must have been a roller coaster of experiences. The disciples must have lived in a world punctuated with the unexpected. They never knew what Jesus was going to do next. But of course each and every event that occurred was entirely in the will of Jesus’ Father in Heaven. In John 6:38 Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will”. That was the focus in Jesus’ ministry and the disciples had first hand experience of what that meant. They truly had an education in the “University of Life” that no-one else has had. It was a life lived in the Kingdom of God, and one where for a brief period Heaven touched earth. 

What do we pilgrims expect in our lives as believers in Jesus? I am writing this on a Sunday, a day when I attend a church service. A day when I look forward to the time of worship, hearing the sermon, joining in the prayers. But do I expect the unexpected? What will the Holy Spirit do through my brothers and sisters today? Am I tuned into a limitless God who delights to bless His people? Will something unexpected happen? And not just on a Sunday – what about Monday morning in the office, the supermarket, the queue at the bus stop? God desires to use men and women, even young people, to further His purposes here in this world. Are we willing to step out in faith, believing that the God who walked the highways and byways of Israel is still walking today through the Holy Spirit within us.

We have no idea what will happen in our worlds today. But we do know the Creator of our worlds. And trusting in Him takes away the anxieties and stress that blights the lives of so many.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your many spiritual blessings, available to us by Your Spirit. In You we put our trust, our lives in Your hands. Amen.

A Problem Deferred

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.”
John 12:44-48 NLT

‭‭If there was ever a spiritual stick and carrot, this was it. Jesus couldn’t have been clearer. He was effectively saying to the people listening to Him, that if they believed that He was the Son of God and believed in what He said, and trusted in Him in the process, then they would be lifted out of their dark life of sin and instead would be able to enjoy His light-filled presence for all eternity. Jesus said that the world was a dark place because of the sin and evil that prevailed, in spite of all the religiosity, sacrifices and so on. Paul summed up the problem in his second letter to Timothy – 2 Timothy 3:5, “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” The problem was that the Jewish people believed they were safe because of their ancestry, that they traced all the way back to Abraham. So they stumbled around in the dark thinking that they were in fact in the light.

But Jesus went on to say that He had not come to judge the world at this time, because His mission was to save the world. He repeated what He had earlier said to Nicodemus, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). But then He warned the crowd about the judgement to come, “But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken”. At this point, anyone hearing Jesus’ message became accountable to God, and that accountability has extended throughout history right up to the present day. One day all the disobedient hearers of the words of Jesus will have to stand before Him and explain why they didn’t believe and trust in Him. It would make no difference if the person standing before Jesus was a descendant of Abraham. The people of that day, and people ever since, may think that they can defer the problem until some time in the future, but inevitably there will come a day when they will stand before Jesus. 

We pilgrims are a people living in the light. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father”. We are light shiners, true LED’s (Light Emitting Disciples), in a dark and hopeless world.

Dear Father God. You are the Power that makes our lights shine before men. Please help us to stay connected each and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Days and Years

Posted on by korgrocker

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
2 Peter 3:8-9 NLT

It was obviously a problem for those early Christians – why was the expected return of Jesus apparently being delayed? Did He really say He would come back again “soon”? But then, what does “soon” mean? Has God changed His mind? In John 14:3, Jesus said that after He had prepared a place for them, He would return to get His disciples, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am“. But there can’t be a delay with the Heavenly building work because, after all, God only had to speak the word and something would appear from nothing. But Jesus did say that even He didn’t know when He would come again – Matthew 24:36, “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows“. All He said was that His followers must be ready – He said, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected” (Matthew 24:44). 

The Bible tells us much about the End Times, and how Jesus will return. Jesus provided some detail in Matthew 24 and 25. His discourse contained warnings and signs of the end, and He left the impression that he would return within a generation. Matthew 24:34, “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place“. However the word “generation” can also be translated “age” or “nation”. But comparing current world events with the End Times prophecies, we can surely assume that we are living in the End Times, and must do what Jesus advised – get ready for His return. 

Peter gave a reason for the apparent delay in Jesus’ expected return. He wrote, “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” That’s the grace of God. The fact that we are currently alive in itself indicates that God is giving many generations the opportunity to reach out to Him and embrace His loving and saving grace. If Jesus had returned when the early believers had expected Him to, then we probably wouldn’t be here. God is patient, and events will happen as He orders.

But what about Peter’s suggestion that “ A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day?” God lives outside of time, or perhaps time lives inside God. But the Eternal Being sees the end from the beginning. All history, all world events past, present and future, all generations and nations, are laid out before Him and He can therefore see many things, that we can’t. But what we do know is that God can be trusted. The One who holds the world isn’t capricious, or unpredictable. He is holy, loving and kind. The accolades we could write about God are many, but one driving factor is His righteousness. His perfect righteousness can be trusted to bring about a conclusion that is right. All we are asked to do is to have faith in Him, believe in Him, put our trust in Him and get ready for Jesus’ return. It may not be in our lifetimes, but that doesn’t matter. What does, is that we follow Him and keep His commandments. Day by day, year by year. Time is unimportant. 

So how are we living? How do we treat those around us? How is our relationship with Jesus? It would be terrible to find that He returns, and finds us unprepared. Especially when His grace is freely available.

Father God. We know You love us, so it is no hardship to return that love. We say “Come Lord Jesus”. Amen.

Trusting Him

Posted on by korgrocker

“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT

What Peter wrote to those early Christians living in a far-off corner of what is now modern Turkey was truth indeed. And it is even more true today. We pilgrims have never seen Jesus in the flesh, in the way the early disciples did as he walked and talked with them, and lived with them, in Palestine and the surrounding areas. Yet, as Peter wrote, the early believers, located many miles away from the Holy Land, loved Him, and so do we believers today. It is what faith is all about. We believe in Him, and all the information we can find about Him in the Bible. And because of that we love Him and trust Him. 

There is much in the Bible about Jesus. Prophetic words in the Old Testament. Personal glimpses and records of His teaching and sayings in the New. A Figure emerges of a loving man, compassionate and caring, the very face of God Himself. God came to this planet in human skin and those who followed Him, those He called, were never the same again after He left. The amazing fact is that through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is still with us today. He said to His disciples just a few hours before His death, “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. … When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future” (John 16:7,13). The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, never left this world, and He lives within all those who love and trust Jesus.

Peter continued that because we trust Him, we “rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy”. Those early Christians were having a hard time and they were experiencing many trials and challenges, being counter-cultural in their societies and communities. But they were filled with joy. Not happiness. The difference is that happiness is an emotional feeling, tossed around by the external factors in our lives, such as what we eat, who we meet, and how we feel. But joy is different, and is based on something deep within us, an inner knowledge that no matter what happens externally, we are ok within ourselves. We are at peace. We are in Christ. 

Peter wrote that there is a reward for trusting Jesus and that is the “salvation of [our] souls”. We believe what Jesus said. We believe that His promises are true. And we trust Him for the outcomes that will happen one day in the future. Jesus said, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2). That’s in the future, but much of Jesus’ teaching applies to today as well. In Matthew 11:28-30 He said, “ … Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”. John 14:6, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”. The list of promises that Jesus made builds a picture of a God who cares for us and loves us.

Peter concludes these verses today with the thought that we have waiting for us a reward for trusting Him. and that is the “salvation of [our] souls”. Imagine before us a cross roads. Turn left for the paths and ways of the world. Lives without God. Lives dominated by the hedonism and decadence of the sinful societies in which we live. Or turn right, for a life that won’t be easy – Jesus said, ” … Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. …” (John 16:33). And those early believers in the five provinces were finding that out. But all worth it because of the reward that was waiting for them, secure in Heaven. So, fellow pilgrims, where is our security? Where is our treasure stored? Which turning will we take – left of right? There is only one way – the Jesus way.

Dear Father God. Thank You for the joy within us, a joy that can only be found in You. Amen.

God’s Standards

Posted on by korgrocker

“What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.”
Romans 9:30-32 NLT

In Jesus’s day, there was a group of Jews called the Pharisees. They were extremely religious and very diligent in upholding the Jewish teachings. They were very careful to observe not just the Law, the Jewish Talmud, but also the oral traditions that had been handed down from the time of Moses. Jesus had little time for their legalisms, saying in one of His encounters with them, “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things” (Luke 11:42). What Jesus said highlighted their difficulty – they had become so legalistic and religious that they had lost sight what the Law was put in place for. The intent of the first commandment tended to be overlooked by them – Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength”. Jesus quoted this to them in another encounter, as recorded in Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments””.

Paul in his letter outlined the dilemma that the Roman Christians, a mixture of Jews and Gentiles, faced. How could God consider the Gentiles righteous, but not His chosen people, the Jews. Both factions had come to faith in Christ, trusting in Him for their current and future lives, but perhaps there was a remaining thought in the Jewish minds, that this wasn’t very fair. All that effort expended on trying to keep the Law, but to no avail. The Law to the Jews had become a stumbling block. It tripped them up by giving them a false sense of security. Many today claim to be “good people” because they keep the laws of the land, of the societies in which they live. But does this allow them to ignore having a relationship with God? Many Jews claim to have kept the Law, but was there perhaps a residual nagging doubt that they might have missed one?

So, as Christian’s, are we rule followers, or God followers? Do we think that it is enough to be a good member of society, giving to charity, helping our neighbours and so on? Do we believe we are put right with God by making sure we do religious things, like going to church, or do we diligently maintain a relationship with Him, trusting Him, loving Him, following Him? As I have written before, it is all about the state, the condition, of our hearts. God’s standards are too high to be reached by human efforts alone. 

Father God, we fall far short of the perfection You desire. But I thank You that through Jesus we can truly be righteous in Your presence. Thank You. Amen.

Difficult Questions

Posted on by korgrocker

“The Lord says to my Lord: 
‘Sit at my right hand 
until I make your enemies 
a footstool for your feet.’”
Psalms‬ ‭110:1‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

Psalm 110 is another Davidic Psalm, full of prophetic and apocryphal language. The verse I’ve chosen today was quoted by Jesus during one of His conversations with the Pharisees; He used it to ask a difficult question of the religious leaders of His day, one that they couldn’t answer. The details of the conversation were recorded in Matthew 22. 

I read this Psalm, and find myself at a loss to understand at first how it will help the modern day pilgrim, in his or her journey through this life. There is obviously a time coming, prophetically laid out, of when Jesus, the Son of God, will rule and reign one day in the future. It will be a time of judgement, of battle, of triumph, of defeat of the forces that will be arraigned against Him. It’s encouraging to know the contents of a future chapter in the book of this world’s history. As I scan the verses in this Psalm, some nuggets of truth emerge. About God’s unchanging promise that His enemies will one day be defeated, by His Son Jesus ruling at the head of an army of His troops. About His priestly role, leading the spiritual future of His people. About judgement bringing about the justice God’s people can only dream of today. It is these thoughts that will sustain us when our lives are difficult and challenging. 

The Bible contains difficult questions, like the one Jesus asked of the Pharisees when He quoted this Psalm. And in some places the Biblical records and accounts can be interpreted in different ways. So how do we handle challenging Biblical and theological questions when asked by those around us? I’m sure some people lay awake at night trying to dream up traps to undermine us. A genuine seeker after truth should be answered and carefully helped to understand the answer to their difficulties; if necessary we must go away and research the answer with the help of the Holy Spirit; if we don’t know the answer we should say so. And we thank God for the apologists who interface the Bible truths to everyday life, and provide light in dark corners; such people we can refer our questioners to if necessary. 

In our everyday lives, we too can have questions about difficult-to-understand passages in the Bible. At such times, we keep close to our Heavenly Father, trusting Him to provide all the answers we need for our journeys. And we need to take our life-steps, with the faith that God knows what is best for us. Perhaps Proverbs 3:6 is a good go-to place today: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Sometimes we don’t need answers to difficult questions – we just need God.

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