Psalm 46 is one of the most beloved in the scriptures. It begins, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

This Psalm is a reminder that even in the midst of this uncertain, chaotic and sometimes crumbling world, God is with us.

Near the end of the Psalm, the Lord speaks, “Be still and know that I am God…”

One year the children of our church read this verse several times, each time a little abbreviated, each time with a little silence for reflection:

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Let us pray: We sit now in your presence, O Lord, even if only for a moment. And we trust that you are healing and redeeming and putting our lives and even this world back together. May your peace rest upon us – and then reach out through us.

We pray today for all of those who stand in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. We especially lift up peacekeepers, aid workers and women and men in the military. We long with them for the day when your peace will ultimately reign. And we pray in the One who is our refuge, our strength, and our Prince of Peace. Amen.

“Our message today was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel.” -Joe

The poet Robert Frost wrote, “A voice said look me in the stars and tell me truly, men of earth… if all the soul-and-body scars were not too much to pay for birth.

Friend of Dial Hope, take a close look at your “soul-and-body scars.” Center upon one loss, hurt or tragedy. Was it caused from within or without, or both? How did you handle it? What kind of resources were helpful to you? Who stood by you? Have you moved through to the other side? If not, what concerns remain? Are you still hurting? If you wish, visit some more with the scar. Embrace your scar. Be gentle with yourself. Then, when ready, say farewell to it. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Let us pray: God of compassion, cover us with your wings as a mother spreads a blanket of love over a sleeping child. Come into our pain, our loss and make us whole. Hold us close and sing us a lullaby of hope in the darkness. Bless us now so we may be a blessing to others. Through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

A friend was telling me not too long ago that she has a great aunt who won’t go to church anymore. She went through a terrible divorce and she feels she is no longer worthy to be in worship. Because she is unable to forgive herself, she is unable to believe God forgives her. I felt sad when I heard her story, because forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel. But the truth is many of us do have a hard time letting go of the past. So often, we beat ourselves up over past mistakes and failures.

The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote this prayer: “Hold not our sins up against us, but hold us up against our sins, so that the thought of You when it wakens in our soul… should not remind us of what we have committed, but of what You did forgive, not of how we went astray, but of how You did save us.”

The next time you feel haunted by the past, remember this prayer. Let past mistakes serve as a warning of what not to repeat, but more importantly, let them be a reminder of God’s saving grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God loves you and has forgiven you. May you forgive yourself.

Our prayer today is taken from the prayer of Manasseh – which is included in the Greek and Slavonic Bibles. Let us pray: O Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob… immeasurable and unsearchable is your promised mercy. You have appointed repentance for me who am a sinner. For I am weighted down with many an iron fetter.

And now I bend the knee of my heart, imploring you for your kindness. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, and in me you will manifest your goodness. For unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy, and I will praise you continually all the days of my life. Amen.

Last October, our church celebrated our Scottish roots with a ceremony called “Kirking of the Tartans.” We were reminded that when Scotland lost it’s freedom to England in the 1700’s, they experienced great loss – even a sense of oppression. They were forbidden to speak Gallic, or to play the pipes or even to wear the colors that symbolized their family heritage. For many, there is no doubt that this was a dark and difficult time.

On the other hand, amazing things happened in Scotland during this time period. In his book, How the Scots Invented the Modern World, Arthur Herman makes this crystal clear. He makes the case that in part, because the Scots no longer had to worry about defending their borders, they were able to put more time and resources into developing their education – especially the University system. Out of these schools came the men and women who were most influential in developing many of our modern inventions, and in the enlightenment. Many of these men and women went on to influence – directly or indirectly – the birth of our democratic nation.

All of this just reminds me that even in the darkest moments of life, God is present. And though it is often impossible to see it in the moment, there is is potential for great good and beauty and truth to emerge.

Let us pray: When darkness and uncertainty surround us, it is tempting to give up, to grow bitter or cynical. Give us eyes to see beyond the darkness. Give us faith to trust that you are at work and that your love will ultimately prevail. Grant us courage and strength to look for the good and to move forward in faith. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

My friend Rev. Peyton Hopkins was one of the pastor at Community Presbyterian Church church. Sometime back, he shared with me that one of the families in his church had been audited by the IRS three times in the last several years due to their generous giving. Apparently one of the red flags they look for is extraordinarily high charitable giving. If this number is higher than they think normal, they may take a second look.

This reminded Peyton of an age old question, “If you were on trial for your faith, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

I hope there would be an abundance of evidence in your case – evidence of your generosity, compassion, love and forgiveness. I hope that you are leaving a clear trail of deep faith – not because you can earn God’s favor in any way. You can’t. I want that for you because that way of life goes hand in hand with a deep sense of peace and an underlying joy that the circumstances of this world cannot shake.

I pray today that the evidence for your faith would grow. May it shine brightly simply by the way that you live.

Let us pray: Loving God, we all face moments of doubts and darkness and despair. There are times when our faith seems small in the face of the injustice and heartache of the world. I pray today especially for the people who are going through difficult times, those who face anxiety or fears, and for those weighted down with burdens. I pray that today you would refresh us with your Spirit. Prompt us again and again to acts of kindness and mercy. Move us beyond ourselves, that we could once again catch a glimpse of your peace, your joy and your love. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.