As I listen to the news I know I’m in serious
trouble. When I retired I rolled my retirement earnings over into an IRA that
invested conservatively in the stock market. My reasoning was sound and
careful, but now my IRA is free-falling.
Where does this leave me? I’m
free-falling, too, with no pension and a disappearing retirement.
Panic haunts me as I envision myself old and cold,
sitting on a street corner with a sign saying, “Will teach for food.” I grab
these fretting thoughts and push them away, but they keep coming back. I have
depended on my own power to provide for my needs. My retirement was my
security. So, do I really trust God? Do I even need Him?
Until this crisis hit me personally, I thought I was
living a faith-filled life, but like the good kings of the Bible, I had not
taken down my “high places.”
The high places in Israel were isolated mountaintops
where Jehovah’s children still worshiped foreign gods of their own creation.
They didn’t completely trust an invisible God, so they turned to false ones for
a little added insurance. Do I do the
same?
Don’t get me wrong—we are supposed to use our money
wisely and plan for our future, but we can’t put our trust and hope in money.
We can’t worship it, and that is exactly what I was doing—until a few weeks
ago. My fears have forced me to my knees in prayer. I have only two choices:
trust God—or not.
I can choose to fall through the sky screaming and
thrashing wildly, reaching out to grab past securities. Or, I can turn over,
spread out my arms and soar, yelling “Ya-hooooooo!” at the top of my lungs
because I know that the gentle hands of my Father will catch me. Hmmm.
Overwhelming despair, or outrageous joy. My choice.
The kings of the Bible had decisions to make when
they faced terrifying enemies or natural disasters. Sometimes, they used
politics (II Chronicles 16); sometimes they humbled themselves and turned to
God (II Chronicles 20). We have the same decisions to make today. Do we believe
the government will rescue us, or do we believe God will?
God has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). He loves us and
will rescue us—if we allow Him to. It’s time we remember He’s God, and we’re
not. It’s time to ask Him to intervene in our lives; and expect Him to be
faithful to the promises He’s made to take care of us (Matthew 6:31-34). We
must turn to God with our whole heart, and believe that He wants to save
us—in fact, He is the only one who can. Simple, but not easy—faith never is.
(Isaiah 8:11-22)
When we can trust God…the free falling doesn’t scare
us. It is a great opportunity to watch God work in dynamic ways. It’s a great
time to reach out to others as they watch our faith grow. It’s a great time to
walk in peace and joy.
Carol S. Fitzpatrick
writes from Gold Hill, Oregon. She is an
educational consultant for teachers of struggling readers. www.rainbowreaders.com