The City of God

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Scripture:  Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Read more…

Looking to Sunday

by Elaine Poproski

I’m writing this shortly after a family meeting with my dad’s doctor. My dad’s been in ICU for about 2 ½ weeks and isn’t getting better. He’s had problems with his heart and has experienced complications from diabetes more than once. We’ve finally come to the point when it’s not the best decision (for my dad) to keep trying to make him better. We aren’t surprised that we’re here. In fact, arrangements for Sunday’s service were made a few weeks ago when it seemed this might be the trajectory, and Heather Weir offered to have a sermon ready to go for whenever it might be needed.

I know a lot of you have been in this same place with your parents. Even though it’s not a shock, even though we are confident that my dad will be with Jesus and with my mom, even though we know his life after death will be way better than what his life is right now, it’s a sad thing to say good bye to a parent.

Before this family meeting today, I was working on the worship service that will surround Sunday’s sermon, which will be based on Psalm 46. You might recognize this part of the psalm:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

It’s like God has been speaking those words out loud to me as my brain threatens to get overwhelmed by all the decisions that we’ll need to make as well as all the things we’ll have to do as a family when my dad dies. I’m thinking about how best to support my sisters and my brother, as well as my niece. I’m thinking about Walmer, and what I need to do so I can be away for a bit. And into all that clutter, I hear God’s voice:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

In the past, those words from Psalm 46:10 have stood on their own for me. They’ve stood as a complete sentence – a reminder, a comfort, and an invitation all wrapped up in one. But today, I’m struck by the fact that in Psalm 46, those words aren’t the whole sentence. This is how the psalm reads:

“Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

All of a sudden, as I keep reading past the “Be still and know that I am God” piece, I hear a triumphant note. I can be still because of who God is. I can be still because God is exalted, because God is the Lord Almighty, because God is my fortress, just as he has been for millennia of people. I can be still, and breathe, and take all the moments I need to; I can leave all the thoughts and plans in God’s hands and let him carry them because he is God, he is the Lord Almighty, he is my fortress.

As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time with Psalm 46. Read it a few times. Read it out loud. Is there something in it that grabs your attention? Is there something God may be saying to you through these ancient words?