Title: God Only Knows

Date: 2008-09-07

Reference: Psalm 121

This last week Hurricane Gustav was making all the news. And now we’re keeping an eye on Hanna and Ike which are scheduled to hit land in the next few days. This is Hurricane season and we all remember the devastation of Hurricane Katrina three years ago. We are in awe of God’s power and the fury of nature.

Have you ever wondered why this kind of disaster would strike? One person shared her feelings about the recent Hurricane. She said:”The song that keeps going through my mind is a chorus we learned in Sunday School: ‘He’s got the whole world in His Hands.’ “ We believe that. And yet if God has the whole world in His hands, sometimes it appears God is not doing too good a job of protecting His possessions. Some would say: “If the God who loves us is powerful and in control, how could He let this happen?”

We’ve all wondered that. When the medicine stops working, when the bills are due, when the relationship flounders, when the job ends, when the children rebel, when we have no options.it is hard to trust God completely. And yet that is exactly what the 121st Psalm calls us to do. We are taught to trust God in the midst of the storm, in the midst of adversity, knowing our situations may not change for a time and we have to ride the storm out. As we experience more of God’s character in our study of Scripture and through our life experience we find the faith to trust God in everything, by day and by night, in the midst of the storm.

I have officiated at two funeral services this week.

In those times I often read the 121st Psalm because it is so comforting in times of loss.

In the face of death we trust God. A pastor whose wife died suddenly and unexpectedly used to say.”I don’t understand this life our ours. But I really cannot comprehend how people in trouble and loss and bereavement can turn away from God. In times of grief have we not lost enough without losing our faith too?” This man knew the God of Psalm 121.

There are many things in life we do not understand. Things that make no sense. The 3rd Proverb says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” We’re called to trust and not to try and figure life out. Many have learned when we finally stop trying to understand why God allowed something to happen, and begin to trust in God a peace comes. Not all of our questions are going to be answered in this lifetime. We don’t have to understand how, or why or when God works. All we need to do is trust God. God is in control of the universe including the part of the universe each of us inhabit.

In the ever changing circumstances of life there is a faithful never changing God in control. Each and every day begins and ends with His purpose. There isn’t a detail that escape His eye. A trial that doesn’t touch His heart. There is not a single experience beyond His compassion. Every moment of life is in His care. It is almost unbelievable that God who made heaven and earth knows us by name. That being the case, God is aware of our needs and the issues in our lives. God knows how we feel. God is our protector. God won’t go to sleep or let us stumble. God who protects us doesn’t doze or even get drowsy.

Bishop Quayle was a leader in the Methodist Church years ago. He used to tell about a night he worked into the early hours of the morning trying to solve his problems. The longer he worked the more agitated he became. He glanced over at his desk and saw his Bible was opened to Psalm 121. At a moment of intense pressure when Bishop Quayle was feeling tired, frustrated and annoyed his eyes fell on words that told him God never slumbers or sleeps and God always watches over us 24 hours a day.

The Bishop realized he was burning the midnight oil worrying about so many things and God was watching over him as he worried. He was working for God rather than allowing God to work through him. In his soul he heard God say: “Quayle, thee is no need for both of us to stay awake all night. I’m going to be up anyway. You go to bed and get some sleep.”

We’ve all lost sleep for various reasons. Kids, finances, marriage, illness, conflict at work. In those times we remember God never sleeps. God never takes time off. God is never out of touch. God is so close we don’t even need to call out. God is there.

A friend of mine from Durango recently relocated to Michigan. She stopped by to see me a couple of weeks ago to tell me about her new town, and new job. She is going to work the graveyard shift at the town hospital. She’ll be working the hours most of us are sleeping. She said: “I’ve worked those hours before. Sometimes they are hard. Lot’s of strange things can happen in a hospital in the wee hours.” I told her about a book I had read some time ago entitled: “God Works the Night Shift.” The book reminds us that in the earliest, darkest, hours of night God is there. God doesn’t slumber or sleep.

Alexander the Great was once asked how he could sleep so soundly in the midst of great danger. He replied he lost no sleep because his faithful, trusted guard was always there, so he could rest. If Alexander could sleep because a mere man was watching over him, how much more should we sleep knowing the Eternal God is keeping watch. ?

The Psalm says: “God is our protector on our right side, our shade from the sun and moon. The Psalmist felt the assurance that God watched over him by night and protected him during the noon heat. God protects us around the clock by day and when the day is over by night.

In the midst of our fears, real or imagined, in the heat of the day and the terrors of the night God will never leave our side. God does have the whole world in His hands. God is with us through each and every storm of life.

God doesn’t offer to explain Himself, He simply offers His companionship. Why is one question God never answers. Even as His Son, hanging on a cross, asked why, God never spoke a word.

I think many people who ask why, who demand explanations don’t want an answer they want an argument. We would only challenge the answer with another question. Another Psalm assures us God is close to the brokenhearted.” God doesn’t explain broken hearts, God just comes very close to the brokenhearted. (34:18)

Psalm 121 reminds us that God is involved. God is active in the world and in our lives. We are able to trust God. We know this from past experience. God has promised to bring us through, not just somehow, but triumphantly.

Human beings like control.

When something is beyond our control we fret and worry. In life we are called to leave much to God’s providential care.

If I fear anything in life it’s that the world will somehow hurt those I love the best.

My desire is to shelter my family and to protect my children. I need to remember they were God’s son and daughter long before they were mine. And they are mine only for a while and they will be God’s for all eternity.

God knows our fears. God knows what we need even before we ask. In day and by night all through the storms of life God is always present. There will be times in life when we will suffer, times when life is not fair. Times when we don’t understand. We do know and believe we are able to count on God to see us through.

We are safe from hurricanes where we live. But we all face various storms of life. Illness, inflation, loneliness, frustration, conflict. What challenges are you facing this day, this hour, this moment in time? God knows. God will not let your foot be moved. God never sleeps. God is with you day and night. God is our security. When we are anchored to the one who never moves we ourselves cannot be moved. We are on solid ground because God keeps us.

God has never promised trouble free lives. God does promise to be with us as we face our problems. God assures us that nothing can touch our souls or separate us from God’s love and care.

There are some 365 promises in the Bible about our overcoming fear. At least one promise for every day of the year. We do not need to be afraid even in the storms of life. God is God and God is with us. And God is in control.

Psalm 23 reminds us there are valleys in life including that last dark valley of death. God has never offered to keep us out of the valleys of life. God has promised to stay with us and walk with us through the valleys we face.

If we trust God and put God first in our lives, God will take care of everything else.