Behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:2,3)
Old folks have been saying it for years, but, by golly, this time it seems to be true: The world is indeed going to hell in a hand basket. What on earth can we do?
David’s friends offered the counsel of despair: "Flee like a bird to your mountain...” (11:1), an idea that has always appealed to me. But David gave a better reply: "As for me, I will take refuge in the Lord" (11:1).
Some happy souls find it easy to take refuge in the Lord. Others struggle with a faith that flickers dimly, or not all. Some are so damaged by violence and abuse they find it hard to trust anyone, even the God who loves them beyond measure.
But all of us, no matter how broken, can take our hearts to Jesus and ask him to help us believe. “I believe; help my unbelief,” is the sceptic’s prayer (Mark 9:24).
Paul writes, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that (faith) not of ourselves. It (faith) is a gift of God...” (Ephesians 2:8.9). Faith isn’t something we can conjure into being. It’s a gift we have to ask for again and again.
Like every other virtue, faith falls from above.
David Roper
8.15.20
