Amid Uncertainty and Change
I’ve been thinking about all that is going on in our world right now: the continued upheaval in the Middle East, the situation on our border… Ukraine…Russia. There is just a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Not to mention the political uncertainty in our own country… We live in a time when we as a nation are divided against ourselves.
And then, think about how just over the last 50 years, there has been enormous social change. Some of the change has been much, much needed. At the same time, there has been a tremendous loss of trust – loss of trust in each other, loss of trust in our institutions, in our government, in our political system, in our schools, in our organizations, in our churches… The ground is shifting.
How is a person of faith to live amid this kind of uncertainty and change?
There is no doubt that change and uncertainty often will produce a naturally stressful and reactive environment. We see this all the time, don’t we? People reacting, completely stressed out!
The truth is that it is very difficult to face the uncertainty of life if we have no stillness in our own lives. And it is very difficult to bring about any sense of peace in the world around us if we have no peace within ourselves…
Yesterday, I shared that I’m more and more convinced, that the one gift we have to offer the world around us, is our own inner peace. It starts close to home, within our families, at our places of work, in our conversations with friends and neighbors, how we carry ourselves. We spread either our own dis-ease and anger and frustration, or alternatively, we can radiate hope, offering grace and peace.
My prayer again today is that you would carve out time in your own life for silence, for stillness – to allow that larger, stronger presence of God to fill you and nourish you. And may the peace and strength that you experience, be a gift you share with a world desperately in need.
Let us pray: We pause for even just a moment in your presence, O God. Take our anger, our grief, our pain. Wash over us again with your grace, that we might be healed, restored, and filled anew with your peace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Message Author: Joe Albright
Joe began his ministry in Sarasota, Florida as an associate pastor, and it was in this capacity that he worked alongside the Reverend Dr. Roger Kunkel. Roger was a colleague who became a mentor and treasured friend. From Sarasota, Joe was called to Jacksonville, Florida where he served as the Head of Staff at Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Currently, Joe and his family worship and serve at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Switzerland, Florida. Full Bio
