Thursday’s Reflection
THOUGH I MIGHT stub my toe and lose my balance, though I might tumble on the floor and fracture a bone, I will never fall out of your reach, precious Lord. Never.
- Missy Buchanan
Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms
From p. 45 of Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms. Copyright ©: 2010 by Missy Buchanan. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Pray to God about your that which makes you afraid. Share your reflections.
Today’s Scripture Reading
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
- Psalm 32:2, NRSV
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{ 13 comments }
A fear that would always nag at me was that I would be unprepared to deal with my parents aging and eventual death. I saw first hand what my parents went through as they tended to their parents – and lost all four of them within a five year period. By the end of those five years, my parents were fully entrenched as care givers and it was very difficult on my mom – and her attitude. Fortunately – since then, my parents are still in good health and have been able to enjoy their retirement – which was initially swallowed up in care-giving.
I realized this morning – upon reflecting on this – that I am not as concerned as I once was about this. I can remember a year and a half ago visiting with my dear long distance friend in Montana – sitting in Glacier National Park – and just breaking down crying about this concern to her. It caught her completely off guard – and she found it intriguing that one of our first conversations was about “death”. It is kind of a joke now. Anyway – I think that she has been a serious prayer warrior on my behalf – concerning this – as the burden is not as intense on my heart. I suppose I realize that I will never be “prepared” for this, but that my Heavenly Father will be right by my side through it all.
Father – I thank You for this realization of stillness that didn’t used to be there. And I thank You for my parents – watch over them as they return home today from a month long vacation in the South. I am so blessed- You are amazing – all the time.
My fear Lord is that I slip away, that I’m just one slip in my recovery from drugs to being right back where I was two years ago…Lost, broken, hopeless, hopelessly addicted. This fear overwhelms me at times. Lord, please give me strength to fight this fight. You’ve brought me so far, please protect me from myself. In Jesus name I pray, Amen
God, I am afraid of not having enough money to live on. I am afraid that Jason though he just got a new job will be laid off again and we will once again have to pack up and move in with family. I am afraid that even if he keeps his job he will not earn enough for us to live. I am afraid of being swallowed up in debt.
I have been afraid at one point, of all the above; parents illness and eventual death, regression in my progress, money. Perhaps most of our fears fall into just a few categories. Most of these fears I have now met; parents illness and death, some backtracking in progess and always, it seems, money issues. “But still I rise..” as a poet says. God has seen me through these and more and I’m here I suppose to provide testimony mostly to myself as a reminder, that this too shall pass and that God is always with me.
As a recovering alcoholic with many years of sobriety, won one day at a time, I confess that I do not fear the bottle. I respect what it can do to me, but I rely upon God. Trust means that I can live without fear, and that’s exactly what happens to me every day. I’ve buried my parents; I’ve been poor and hungry; I’ve been in the “shadow” myself, but I’ve never been alone. I have seen the worst, and yet I survived and still believe. Like Paul I affirm, “What can the world do to me?” This is not bravado. For me it’s the only way to live.
I pray that when worldly turmoil strikes us inspite of our belief in thy care, help us Lord, increase our faith and hold us in the palms of Thy loving hands and guide us through.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” Because we are His children we can hold on to His promises.
If God be for us,who can be against us.Trust in God with all your heart,lean not to thine own understanding ,in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.What a reassurance.
Like Peter, I can get out of the boat and face anything fearlessly when I keep my eyes on Jesus. It is only when I look at the storm and the deep water that fear comes and with it a fall. May I always lift up my eyes and trust in you, Lord, my hope, my love, my life. Amen
Falling is a literal concern for the aged as it can have long-lasting consequences but all through life as the other people have commented here today, there are many “falls” we experience through life and looking back we can see that God was very close by to pull us back up. And we have that assurance that He will now and in the future, whether the fall is literal, emotional or situational.
Lord, You know that i’m so desperately trying not to be afraid, for i KNOW that fear is not of You, for You have NOT given us a spirit of fear, but of love, and power, and a sound mind.
So Lord, help me to cast down every argument and vain imagination, and every thought that tries to raise itself up against the knowledge of You.
Help me Lord, to remember always that YOU are Jehovah Shalom, the Lord God our Peace, and that in YOU is perfect peace.
Help me Lord, to keep my eyes fixed upon You when i’m starting to feel afraid, just like a baby looking into the eyes of her daddy, as she takes her first wobbly little steps.
Help me to walk towards You, trusting that You will protect me with Your strong right arm, that You will deal with anything or anyone that tries to mess with me beyond what You know i can handle.
Help us all Lord, to stand firm – upon Christ the solid rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand.
Help us Lord, to keep our heads in the midst of the battle, to hold onto our swords, and to not give ground to the enemy of our souls.
Remembering always, that YOU are our shield, You are our portion, You are our defender, our ever-present help in times of trouble. You are our strong tower, and into You we run, in You we hide, for we are seated in Christ Jesus, in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers, at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
Help us Lord to remember that the earth is Your footstool, and that NO weapon formed against us will prosper!
Praise God, for we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, for we have the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit within us, that same power that raised Christ up from the grave! Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty shout over His foes. More than conquerors! PRAISE GOD!
I am just afraid. Afraid even when things are going smoothly and the way it should I get afraid of how things will turn out. Challenges that come my way I know there is a reason for the challenge, but it makes me so scared. I try not to look at the road ahead too much remembering You God are there with me, guiding me every step of the way. Father I ask that you continue to be with me, presenting these challenges/struggles but ensuring me that I can complete whatever there is for me to do. Keep reminding me that even with the bad it is You who is giving the struggle to me, but only to make me stronger. In Jesus name, Amen.
I am touched and humbled by the responses to this little slice of the devotion I wrote for Talking with God in Old Age. I marvel at God’s willingness to speak to us wherever we are, in whatever situation we’re in… to remind us that He is holding us close.
I fear fear it’s self. I try not to think of what could go wrong. I thank you Father God for flushing fear from me. I hold all of the above up to you and pray that you will take all of their fears and dump them into a deep abyss. Let the light shine always Father God. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray, Amen
Blessings
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