The Stability of Our Times

October 5th, 2014 Posted in writing

Recently I ran across these words in the book of Isaiah: “He [God] will be the stability of your times” (Isaiah 33:6, NRSV). It’s good to remember this when violence, worry about the future, illness, unrest and fear of the unknown begin to trouble our spirits and upset the peace in our souls.

Of course we long for something dependable in life but know from our experience, though we’re often reluctant to admit it, that wealth, weapons, clever ideas and even good intentions don’t bring us lasting peace. That’s why we need to let Isaiah’s words sink in: “God will be the stability of your times.”

But can it really be that simple? Do we just need to trust that God will be a rock to hang onto when things get tough for us as individuals, families, churches or nations? So many voices in our culture tell us we should feel uneasy and afraid. Jesus once said, “Fear is useless; what is needed is faith” (Mark 5:31). Our culture seems to say, “Faith is useless; what is needed is fear.” But if we genuinely try to live as if God were the stability of our times, we might find that Isaiah’s words are not only true but exactly what we need to hear in our unpredictable times.

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  2. By Michael Martin on Oct 7, 2014

    I have learned that when fear knocks, faith opens the door, and there will be no one there. Faith in my God will give me the courage, if I ask for it, to face whatever the randomness of Nature gives me for the day.

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