Faith for Anxious Times

 Is this not one of the most difficult of all Christ’s teachings to put into practice? You’re driving straight ahead, and someone makes a crazy left turn in front of you, even though you have the right-of-way. You slam on your brakes to avoid the collision. Now, be honest. Is “Lord, bless ‘em really good” the first words out of your mouth? I know that’s not my first response, and yet I’m reminded of Jesus on the cross, praying: “Father, please forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:24). Something amazing happens when we can come to the place of relinquishing our anger to God, and in its place saying a prayer. When someone “goes ballistic,” is it possible for us to think: “I wonder what else is going on in this person’s life that would push them to treat me so badly?” It’s that question that can help us bridge to a sincere prayer that God would be with them, whatever they are facing. Such a prayer can help us avoid our blood pressure sky-rocketing and our irritation getting the best of us.

YOUR UNFAILING LOVE SUPPORTED ME

Though much of Psalm 94 is a prayer for vengeance – a prayer that falls short of Jesus’s call for us to bless our enemies – verses 16-19 are brighter and more hopeful. Often as a hospice chaplain, I’ll ask a patient or their caregiver: “When you’re going through a rough time, what gives you strength?” Their answer to that question lets me know their coping mechanisms. They might say “God” or “prayer.” Other times, they might say “family” or “taking a walk in nature.” It’s a chance for me to remind them to double down on what makes them resilient, because they’ll need it now more than ever.

As I read these verses, it’s almost as if someone asked the psalmist: “When you’re going through a rough time, what gives you strength?” And there’s the response in verse 17:

“Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.”

The psalmist doesn’t say: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Self-reliance is not the hero in Psalm 94. Instead, the psalmist points us beyond ourselves to God. All praise goes back to the LORD! To paraphrase verse 17, “If it wasn’t for God, I’d be dead.” Verses 18 – 19  – “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” I like how the NRSV translates v. 19 – “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”