Stressful Times

The news today is that this was the worst week ever in the history of the stock market. I don't understand a lot about investments, but when I hear the words "global economic crisis," it doesn't take a genius to figure out that we are in deep trouble...and they say that it's only going to get worse.

When the market goes down, stress levels go up. At this point, it's impossible to predict the toll that all this mess will have on our society. I heard a report today that says domestic violence has increased, along with emotional and health problems. Statistics show that financial problems are the leading cause of divorce, so when the dust clears, it is heartbreaking to know how many families will be destroyed.

As Christians, we are told to be in the world, but not of the world. The cares of this world should not effect us as those who live without hope. Perhaps that should be easier to do, but I think for most of us, we are used to living our lives in a certain manner and we feel that we deserve to be able to continue that lifestyle.

Tonight I was thinking about the verses that tell us to not worry about what we are going to eat or drink and to not worry about tomorrow. God promises to provide for all our needs...so then why do we worry? Is it that we just don't believe, or are we like the Israelites in the desert? I fear that manna would not be good enough for our palates. We expect more. After all, we are Americans!

Lord have mercy on us.

We are a proud and stiff-necked people. We plan our days and weeks and live as if we are in control. We put so much value in the things that are temporal, but we are slow to consider the eternal.

I have to remind myself that God is not an American. He is not a Republican. He's not even a Baptist. Our efforts to "flavor" the Gospel to suit our agendas does not change the Truth of the Word of God.

What is the best stress reliever that I can think of in these scary times?

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the Lord, who is my refuge-- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.