FAITH CONNECTION – FARMERSVILLE UMC
Ministry Updates for Thursday, June 25th, 2020
Pastor’s Note: Due to technical difficulties we did not get the Faith Connection out yesterday. Our apologies.
Scripture for reflection – Joshua 1:9
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reflection – God is With Us
As I wrote the title of this devotion, ‘God is With Us’, it dawned on me we are exactly six months away from Christmas, the ultimate ‘God is with us’ celebration. This year for Christmas I would like social gatherings where I may stand within a few feet of people.
God challenges Joshua, as he brings the Hebrew people into the promised land, to not be afraid or dismayed. Nothing will stop us moving forward faster than fear or dismay. Fear says, ‘I know what is ahead of me, and I do not think I can overcome it.’ Dismay says, ‘I don’t know what is ahead of me, and so I don’t even know if I can overcome it.’
Of the two, I think dismay is harder to deal with. I think that is where the saying, ‘The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know’ comes from.
I believe love comes in two major forms. One kind of love is about action, what we do for others. The second kind of love is about presence and I believe goes deeper. It says, ‘No matter what happens, I am with you.’ And so, we commit to spend time with people to show our love.
Those who research human behavior say we are just as afraid of success (i.e. the promised land), as we are of failure. There is much to fear in success, as it most certainly has been known, ironically, to ruin families, marriages, and communities.
But when we seek God’s hopes and dreams for our lives and do our best to also pursue them in the manner God wants us to, with integrity and respect for others, the chance of failure is greatly reduced.
Having said all that, I do not always know exactly what is in my hands, and what is in God hands. I just know God is with me. I can count on it. I can move toward a risky future with hope and optimism because whether I succeed or fail, truly the best part is, ‘God is with me’, because he loves me with a love of presence.
Prayer
God of love, God who seeks to lead us into new horizons and exciting lives, I humbly pray you help me be strong, standing firm in the character you call me to possess. I humbly ask that where I find myself afraid or dismayed about moving forward, you would give me courage. Today, help me take one small step toward a better tomorrow, trusting that no matter what happens, you are with me. Amen