DE Thoughts by Kevin Kessler
Read Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
The news in recent weeks has been, to say the least, a bit depressing, although not any more than usual. However, I’ve been more deeply affected by it for some reason. I find rather disturbing the acts of terrorism in Norway, starving children in African nations, and our U.S. political system having such a difficult time finding a way forward through the debt-ceiling, and all that goes with it, debate. Add to these things the stifling heat and drought, and associated difficulties, in this country, and the level of discomfort resulting from bad news increases. News from our own denomination, as well as from other faith communions, moves me into a state of yet deeper concern.
I consider these moments of deep concern like potholes in the road. When we travel over them occasionally we get jolted around a bit. We may even get bumped slightly off course wondering how to gain control and get back on track.
Having recently hit one of these potholes, I was comforted when I read through the verses in Psalm 145 listed above. Descriptive words for God evident in this text helped me to remember that when we hit the big bumps there is One who ultimately and unconditionally cares for us. Here is a list of descriptors from these verses that I found helpful. God is: gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, good, compassionate, faithful, the One who upholds, the One who raises up, giver, satisfier, just, kind, near, listener, fulfiller, the One who saves, the One who watches over us.
God is not each of these descriptors one at a time but all of them wrapped into one all of the time. So when we become overwhelmed with what goes on around us, we have One whose totality encompasses us. Our problems and concerns are not laid to rest because of God’s omnipresence, but we are comforted because we are abundantly cared for in the midst of our depression, distress, and discomfort.
Because God’s abundance smoothes out the way for us, and we are made in God’s image, I’ve pondered that we, then, are capable of sharing abundantly, with the descriptors from Psalm 145, in the lives of others. In doing so, I envision the news we receive having a different effect than depressing us. Rather, it will enlighten us, encourage us, and empower us We’ll spend more time in thanksgiving and praise. I believe this is possible as we strive to reflect the image of God that we were created to be.
The news in recent weeks has been, to say the least, a bit depressing, although not any more than usual. However, I’ve been more deeply affected by it for some reason. I find rather disturbing the acts of terrorism in Norway, starving children in African nations, and our U.S. political system having such a difficult time finding a way forward through the debt-ceiling, and all that goes with it, debate. Add to these things the stifling heat and drought, and associated difficulties, in this country, and the level of discomfort resulting from bad news increases. News from our own denomination, as well as from other faith communions, moves me into a state of yet deeper concern.I consider these moments of deep concern like potholes in the road. When we travel over them occasionally we get jolted around a bit. We may even get bumped slightly off course wondering how to gain control and get back on track.
Having recently hit one of these potholes, I was comforted when I read through the verses in Psalm 145 listed above. Descriptive words for God evident in this text helped me to remember that when we hit the big bumps there is One who ultimately and unconditionally cares for us. Here is a list of descriptors from these verses that I found helpful. God is: gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, good, compassionate, faithful, the One who upholds, the One who raises up, giver, satisfier, just, kind, near, listener, fulfiller, the One who saves, the One who watches over us.
God is not each of these descriptors one at a time but all of them wrapped into one all of the time. So when we become overwhelmed with what goes on around us, we have One whose totality encompasses us. Our problems and concerns are not laid to rest because of God’s omnipresence, but we are comforted because we are abundantly cared for in the midst of our depression, distress, and discomfort.
Because God’s abundance smoothes out the way for us, and we are made in God’s image, I’ve pondered that we, then, are capable of sharing abundantly, with the descriptors from Psalm 145, in the lives of others. In doing so, I envision the news we receive having a different effect than depressing us. Rather, it will enlighten us, encourage us, and empower us We’ll spend more time in thanksgiving and praise. I believe this is possible as we strive to reflect the image of God that we were created to be.
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