Pastors corner

“When Hard Pressed”

I really appreciate the honesty of the Psalms. Folks read them over and over again because they are so true to life - honest, powerful, gutsy, real...No sugarcoating here. The Psalms go to the depth of pain and to the bottom of extreme emotions. Whatever our troubles might be, we can find some encouragement, some consolation - lots of understanding and hand holding -in these 150 writings found near the centerfold of the Bible.

The Psalms deal with life uncertainties. Those of us brave and disciplined enough to read them discover that they are also painfully honest - looking evil in the eye without blinking.

Through it all we learn that God is always there - much like Psalm 23 exclaims, in short ~ God, with us, forever!!

I have always felt the presence of the Lord with me, especially during bicycle journeys such as my recent WhereTheRoadLeads trek across America - because, in the end, when I am most vulnerable, I am most trusting…

I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. (Psalm 118:13)

Psalm 118 is a powerful song of Praise. But behind this psalm of praise is a great deal of pain. What was the pain that led David to write this hymn to God, and what can we learn from David’s pain that make our song as powerful as his?

I think that my pastoral “nickname” here at Selbu, “Mud Flat Preacher,” is embraced so much not because the church is on Mud Flat Road, but more due to the fact that “mud” describes my authentic, down to earth style of ministry.

Most of us have suffered real pain, real loss, real agony, real heart break. When mired there, in the darkness, we do not welcome cheery comments perfectly groomed toothy believers. We do not want to hear them say, “Everything will be just fine. After all, the Bible does say: “Be thankful in all things!”

To the credit of these sugar coated smiling souls, they are right...The Bible does say that.

“...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything…” Ephesians 5:20

“...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18

But even though such statements are Biblical, they can seem trivial and heartless, in the current moment…

If he has just lost his job· Or she has just walked away from her home· Or he is going through a divorce· Or she has lost a loved one.· Or he has been told that he has a life threatening disease…

It is a matter of timing, sensitivity and a proper understanding of the Psalms. Truth is, there is a time and a season for every matter under heaven. Be discerning to know when it is not a good time to remind someone to be thankful for all things.

Sometimes the best we can do is to just sit with the person and be with her, share silence with him, maybe cry with her...

When hard pressed, there is Jesus ~ there is a sunrise; there is a long hug; there is hope; there is the surprise of grace; there is the presence of the Holy Spirit; there is God...

Prayer: Lord God, thanks for being there, even in the worst of times. Amen.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118: 1, 14

Rev. John Cross,

pastor

Selbu Lutheran Church, LaCrosse