Pastor's Monthly Message

Have you ever experienced a situation in your life when you queried the existence of God or doubted in your mind whether or not God is present in your circumstances? The Israelites, in the middle of their journey to the promised land, questioned Moses regarding where God was in the midst of their travails (Nbs.14:1ff) What were some of their problems? No water to drink, plus the congregation and their pets were starving to death. They thereafter complained bitterly to Moses and asked some tough questions, “Why did you take us out of Egypt?”, “Why didn’t you leave us and our children to die in Egypt, rather than in this wilderness of journey to nowhere?”, etc. After God provided water for the people, they lacked food at some point, and they complained again, almost stoning Moses to death. Even during Christ’s ministry, the people doubted God’s power to heal and their eyes were blindfolded to patiently experience God’s presence with them. Citing the baptism of John, Jesus responded to the people with a question about where John’s baptism came from (Mt.21:25). Jesus wanted to indicate that although, the power of God was present in John’s baptism, the eyes of the people were blind to such that they failed to discern God’s presence in the sacrament of baptism. Today, we also often complain instead of discerning the presence of God in our regular worship, sacraments, special services, and personal devotions.

Several situations in life force us to behave like the Israelites. When in physical pains, emotional distress, psychological and physical trauma, we complain about not discerning what God is doing to save us. When in certain situations (spiritual laxity, financial distress, loss of appetite for spiritual food, bad relationships with family and friends, etc), we often blame our problems on our spouses, children, relatives, friends, or neighbors Some even blame their problems on God. As human beings, we often complain about the present and forget to see God in what we pass through, thereby failing to discern the victory ahead.

Rather than doubting God’s presence in your circumstances, begin today to see him as being present with you (Ps.46:1-2). Rather than the attitude of complaining, put on the attitude of praise and trust in turbulent times (Phil.4:6-7). Rather blaming your problems on God or human beings, look forward with confidence for a brighter future (Exd.14:15). In the midst of the fearful circumstances of life, may the Lord continue to be our refuge, in Jesus’ name, Amen!  

Pastor Michael