Chaos at 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00

If you ever want to be challenged in your faith, all you have to do is turn on the news. The Early Show, the Today Show, the Eyewitness News at Noon, and all three evening newscasts (four if you count the 9:00 news on Fox) deliver death, destruction and chaos to your doorstep throughout the day. Add in some CNN, Anderson Cooper, Nancy Grace and the FOX News Network (to say nothing of a little thing called the internet) and you're sure to need a large bottle of antacid, a therapist, or both. If it's not volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes, it's war and famine and disease. Everywhere we turn, our world has the appearance of being out of control and racing toward destruction.

While we prefer to think of our time in history as unique and special, the reality is that there is truly nothing new under the sun. Whether of natural or human origin, trouble has followed mankind since the fall. As such, one of the most significant sources of comfort in trying times is revealed in the writings of those who preceded us, and found rest in the Lord through it all.

Dear Lord, when we look at the chaos in our world, we often wonder why nations and people groups continue to plot against each other.  Why is hate so easy?  Why is war undertaken so quickly?  Will we endlessly villainize those who are different from us, never learning the lessons from history that so clearly demonstrate the futility of these vain efforts?  Leaders around the world attempt to act as god in Your place.  Surely You must laugh at their attempts, even as You grieve.  Remind us, Lord, to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us that we may lead peaceful lives in godliness and holiness.

On a personal level, Lord, our lives are often filled with similar degrees of chaos. Blindness, ignorance, and disobedience on our part mix with tragedy, disappointments and the work of the evil one to drive us to despair. Remind us daily, Lord, that you have called each of us by name.  In our troubles, we are not abandoned.  As we walk, crawl, or stumble through life, You go with us. We go through  no hardships or trials outside of Your knowledge or presence.  

Thank You for the assurance that despite the suffering of the day and the apparent hopelessness of current situations, You work all things together for our good.  You have created, forgiven, and redeemed us.  As we seek a proper response in hard times, remind us of an undeniable truth...You, our God and our Savior, All-Mighty and All-Powerful, stand beside us in the battle.  When we remember this, only one question remains..."What chance then, does anyone or any force have to stand against us?"

(Based upon select verses from Psalm 2, 1 Timothy 2, Isaiah 43, and Romans 8.)