How are you with heights? Would you walk out there? O.K., let’s say you are a brave soul who would walk out on the skywalk high above the Grand Canyon. What if there were no handrails or glass on the sides? Would you walk out there with just the glass floor? No, wait—before you answer—It gets better! What if you had a blindfold on and depended on someone to tell you where to walk. Imagine yourself there, blindfolded, hearing a trusted friend speak into your ear, “straight . . . straight . . . a little left . . . straight . . .”
What? Why not? You would be perfectly safe. The floor beneath your feet is as solid as the sidewalk outside your home. The one giving you direction is your trusted friend. You can be sure you would be fine and safe.
Walking out on a skywalk with no handrails blindfolded is how some people are feeling about the economy. The economic downturn has closed restaurants and dry cleaners, putting some of our church members out of work. Micron, the largest employer in the state of Idaho, will lay off 1,500 more workers in the coming months. Some of our church members and prospects are still reeling from layoffs by Micron 16 months ago. The housing market is mired in a bog of troubled assets. Realtors are desperate. Unemployment has reached levels we haven’t experienced in 19 years. Not just here but the world's economy has taken a nose-dive. And economists muse about how far away from “the bottom” we still might be. Some economists claim we are on the cusp of a deep recession.
It gets personal when we start talking money, doesn’t it? You have been watching your 401K account evaporate. You have seen the memos at work talking about layoffs. You begin to realize some of the things you have been counting on may not be as sure as you thought they were. Money is involved in this issue, but money isn’t the issue. Trust is the issue. Christians who panic in economic difficulties have been duped by the devil into thinking their security lies in paper. Christians who allow godly concern drift into sinful worry, have let their hearts become infected with truth decay. Don’t give in to fear, for fear lies in the camp of our spiritual enemy.
What we all need at times like this is our powerful God and his powerful words making an impact on our outlook. You’ve heard the following words many times before, most likely, but this time envision yourself on that skywalk high above the Grand Canyon . . .
“Now faith is being sure
of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.”
You may not see your way clear of our current economic downturn. This is a point where faith shows itself, it’s value, and it’s true status. The true measure of the human spirit is not when all is going well, fine, and good; we find out who we really are when all tangible supports seem to give way.
“Sure the rope will hold me,” someone might say as they stand on solid ground. But only when they start climbing up the rope into the air do we find out if that is true. That’s faith. Being sure of what we hope—that’s faith. Being certain of what we do not see—that’s faith.
I won’t be brazen enough to speak about your personal finances. But I will be bold in highlighting God’s promises to you: He will never leave or forsake you. God has not given you a spirit of timidity, but one of power. God has directed your mind and attitude away from worry because it gives you no benefit and displays a lack of trust in the One who can and will help you.
God strengthen you in faith, dear sister—dear brother, in the assurance that whatever difficulties may come, your God will take care of you. No matter how far down the drop-off may be, no matter how many walls of support may crumble, no matter how many times the future may seem unclear, you have a trusted Friend who is guiding you and protecting you. You are safe and secure in His loving arms.
Prayer idea: Cast all your cares on Him, for he cares for you. Take a moment to cast your cares to Jesus. Do me a favor—chuck ‘em hard so they don’t roll back to you.
Blessings on your week!
--Pastor Dan