Category: trust in God

Of whom shall I be afraid?

How can the psalmist say he is not afraid though a host encamp against him? (Psalm 27)

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Sr. Dorcee, beloved1 Comment

Though a host encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
   yet will I be confident. (Ps 27:3),

That verse from Psalm 27 poses a question: how can you not be afraid if a host encamps against you?  Derek Kidner, in his commentary on this psalm, proposes the answer: look at the next verse:

One thing have I asked of the Lord,
   that will  I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
   and to inquire in his temple.

 “The best answer to distracting fears: to behold and to inquire–a preoccupation with God’s person and His will. It is the essence of worship . . .”

And so let us try to go about our days, doing our best to be preoccupied both with God’s person and His will.  Then we will shall be confident “though war arise against me.”

(For another take on this psalm, go to Cloister of Love under Blogroll–to the right.)

This God–his way is perfect

As for God, His way is perfect . . . And if His way is perfect we need no explanation. (Amy Carmichael)

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Sr. Dorcee, beloved3 Comments

This morning during our worship time we were singing Jane Terwilliger’s “Psalm 18”, and I was struck by the line: “This God–his way is perfect.”  That reminded me of a section of an incredible letter written by Rev. Frank Houghton in the 1800’s, I believe, after his sister died.  Rev. Houghton was part of the China Inland Mission–any of you remember the story of Hudson Taylor? (a must read!).  His sister sailed for China as part of the Two Hundred, a group of missionaries setting off for China.  She had waited 10 years for the opportunity to go.  Here’s the section of his letter:

As a family God has been speaking to us recently through the death of my youngest sister, Freda, on August 31.  We have no details yet. She sailed on September 18 of last year in one of the parties of the Two Hundred, after ten years’ patient waiting for the way to open.
     Many of our friends in their letters of sympathy speak of God’s mysterious ways, and I know there is an element of mystery.  But I shrink from the suggestion that our Father has done anything which needs to be explained.  What He has done is the best, because He has done it, and I pray that as a family we may not cast about for explanations of the mystery, but exult in the Holy Spirit, and say, ‘I thank Thee Father . . . Even so, Father.”  It suggests a lack of confidence in Him if we find it necessary to try to understand all that He does.
     Will it not bring Him greater joy to tell Him that we need no explanation because we know Him?  But I doubt not there will be a fulfillment of Jn 12:24.

On the same page in my journal, I have this quote from Amy Carmichael:

As for God, His way is perfect . . . And if His way is perfect we need no explanation.  (Rose from Brier, p. 115)

Lord, help us to be women who trust that Your way is perfect. . .

And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley

You’re not alone in the valley.

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Sr. Dorcee, beloved2 Comments

“And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.” (1 Chron. 14:13)  How many of you feel that you are in a sort of valley at the moment–at least in some area of your life: kids, finances, some relationship, prayer, whatever?  And then the Philistines make a raid on you as well?  Two thoughts about the real reality (I know that’s redundant) of the situation:

Two verses later in 1 Chronicles: “God has gone out before you.”  God has gone out before you.  He is before you, not just with you.  He knows the way in which you walk.

And secondly, so well known to us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me.”  Even in the valley of the shadow of death–where many of us have walked–I fear no evil, for He is with us.

You’re not alone in the valley.

Why not be afraid?

Why shouldn’t we be afraid in fear-provoking situations?

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Sr. Dorcee, belovedLeave a comment

Today on my way home from dropping one of our sisters at the Ypsi Emmanuel House, I tuned in to Fr. John Riccardo on WDEO.  He mentioned that the most used phrase in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is “Be not afraid!”  He also pointed out that it was said when the recipients were in pretty scary situations.  Yet, that is the most common thing the Lord says to us.  And, need I say, the most common thing our beloved John Paul II said to us. So, let’s pursue this a bit–why should we not be afraid in a situation that is obviously fear-provoking?

Here’s a little bit of an exercise for you:

  1. Look up one or two of these passages: Luke 1:8-13; Luke 1:26-30; Luke 2:8-11; Isaiah 43:1-5; Matthew 14: 22-27; Matthew 17:1-7; Revelation 1:12-18
  2. Think about the situations which cause you fear.
  3. Based on what God reveals in the passage(s) you read, ponder and write down why you should not be afraid.  Let me point out that it’s natural for us to be afraid in many situations, but why does God tell us to not be afraid?
  4. Feel free to let me (us) know what you find out. (Leave a comment.)
  5. If you’ve got a concordance, look up more passages.

While it was still dark . . .

Sr. Dorcee, belovedLeave a comment

A piece I wrote a couple of years ago on Easter morning (to call myself to more hope):

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark . . . “ (Jn 20:1)

While it was still dark she came. She did not wait at home. She did not wait for Him or for others to come to her. And she expected to find what? Surely the stone still blocking her from Him. And yet she came. In the darkness. In her grief. She sought Him out even if only to lean upon that stone that separated Him from her. In the darkness, in her grief she came.

And what did she find? The stone rolled away—but He was not there. He was not there. “I sought him, but found him not. I called him, but he gave no answer” (Song of Songs 5:6b). “Where have they laid him? They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (Jn 20:13b).

Her sorrow is now greater, yet she does not return home. She stands there weeping. And seeking. While it was still dark.

And no one else can solace her. Not angels. Not gardeners . . . She still seeks Him. While it is still dark. And that seeking, that longing of her soul, that anguish at His absence is the latch Christ uses to open her heart when He says her name: “Mary.” While it was still dark.

So go to Him. While it is still dark. While you are still weeping. Even when you cannot find Him. Stand there weeping and seeking Him. And listen for your name. Even now He is saying it.

While it is still dark.