(I thought this would be timely to post. It is one from my book, Rhyme and Rest. I pray and hope it encourages someone today.)
So many questions,
my heart has wrestled to know.
Why it seems that evil wins,
and feels lately the status quo.
I long to see true goodness come,
for all to be made right.
Where man can dwell in safety
and dawn replace the night.
But this is still a fallen world,
since the apple first we ate.
Love of self, our default,
and God who we do hate.
Evil is confounding,
poses questions we desire to know,
But the biggest evil that I face
is an unlikely closer foe.
If I’m honest with myself,
my own heart is a cesspool of grievous sin,
And so in attempting to understand,
my hope is not within.
Rather let my refuge be
to look outside my shell,
To where wisdom, love, peace and justice
in one person dwell.
A God who is not far off,
but in Jesus has come near.
He took on flesh, he bore our sin,
knows our weakness and our fear.
Jesus, who walked through chaos and sin
and yet he never fell.
But pressed on steadfast to obey,
despite attacks of evil he knew well.
Bringing peace to creation,
calming waves and saving souls.
Now ruling over the universe,
my fearful heart he can console.
So when I read the paper next,
and my stomach tightens in a ball.
I pray my God will hold me up,
and grant me faith lest I should fall.
I’ll pray for those who are wayward, sad,
need help and to belong,
I’ll press on in what God’s called me to,
and work while I sing this prayerful song:
Lord help me to have abundant life,
spiritual strength as I run this race,
Towards Jesus, my one true home,
him I long to soon embrace.
Help me do the work you’ve given,
encourage a friend in need and pray.
Be uncomfortable serving others,
they need my good works today.
Love my spouse, cherish my kids,
rejoice and not complain.
Because the love that I’ve received,
is greater than any earthly gain.
For some things are too high for me,
but faithful I must be.
With all the days he’s given,
as I trust in Christ, my victory.
Ponder:
Christianity promises that, in the end, good will triumph over evil. Meditate on why that is really good news for our souls, our bodies, and our world.
Stay:
Confess to the Lord the specific manifestations of evil that bother you most. Lament them and petition the Lord to act according to his promises.
Pray:
Psalm 131:1-2, “O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high: I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me…”
Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
Romans 8:19-23, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
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