Psalms 42:1-5

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Over 300 people died and 100,000 were left homeless in the great Chicago fire of 1871. In the midst of the hurt tragedies like this can bring out the hero. One of the heroes was Horatio Gates Spafford an attorney, who saw his sizable investment in real estate reduced to ashes. In spite of their personal loss they unselfishly helped those who were homeless and hopeless. Spafford wasn’t just a compassionate care giver he was a Christian motivated by Christ’s mercy. About two years later, in November 1873, Spafford and his family decided to take a vacation in Europe. Just before they were to leave Horatio was unexpectedly detained by urgent business. The decision was made that his wife Anna and their four daughters would go on ahead and he would catch up with them as soon as possible. Tragedy was again going to strike his life. The ship collided with another vessel and sunk, Anna Spafford was one of only a few survivors, tragically all four of their daughters died. Anna Spafford’s heartbreaking telegram to her husband simply read: “Saved alone.” The grieving father set sail for England to join his grief-stricken wife and as the ship that he was traveling on passed over the approximate location where his daughters had drowned, Horatio Spafford penned the words to one the of the most famous hymns of all time “It is well with my soul”

“When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea-billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know; “It is well, it is well with my soul.” Tho’ Satan Should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let his blessed assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.”

How about you have you ever been there, when life seems to come apart at the seams and you are trying to survive, surrounded by a sea of sorrow? It’s in these tragic times that you wonder how you can possess peace in the midst of the pain and the problems.  Have you ever gotten to that point and place where you feel like you are drowning in discouragement? When just when you think you have reached rock bottom the bottom actually falls out? We live in a wounded and wicked world, full of failure, trouble and trials. In Psalm 42 we see a song of both pain and praise composed by the sons of Korah. It is worth noting that these were the descendants of Korah, a priest who had led a rebellion against Aaron and Moses and who God had judged using the earth to swallow him for his sin, Numbers 16. Psalm 42 points to the power of God’s grace, that regardless of our past family failures we do not have to live in the cycle of continued chaos repeating our relative’s rebellion. We have a choice we can sing and we can serve, we don’t have to be salves to sin, bound to our parents past problems. Each of us is a testimony to God’s grace, we each have a song of renewed purpose and redemption that should flow from a heart of humility as we remember the fallen state from which He raised us, and the redemption that we experience through His grace. One has to wonder if the poet who penned these lyrics was remembering and reflecting on his ignoble beginnings, his distant ancestor who perished in an earthquake of pride and rebellion. Now we see a family far removed from reckless rebellion, one with a deep devotion and longing for the Lord. The good news is that even in the midst of the mess and the greatest storm we can possess God’s peace. Psalm 42 should cause us to stop and ask ourselves some pointed questions. First who are you turning to in the tribulation, who is you’re:

• Help

Just like the Psalmist you may be experiencing a time of misery “My tears have been my meat day and night” May be your family is falling apart or your finances are failing and you are wondering how you are going to make ends meet. May be your children are caught up in rebellion, or your marriage is a mess and dangerously close to divorce. Or you may feel hopeless because of current health issues. It’s often in these times of tears that those around us will question God’s power and presence, people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why do we interpret times of adversity as an abandonment of the Almighty? Because we believe in a false premise that the presence of problems indicates an absence of God. The lost world sees a Christian suffering and says where is your God, if he is so good why are you going through this time of trial? But peace is not the absence of problems it is the presence of God. Our circumstances are not a reflection of Christ’s care and compassion, troubles and trials come to us all. We may not know the outcome or how long they will last but we know the Lord who loves us will never leave. It is in these times of trial that we are tempted to throw in the towel, for our faith may falter as we whine, Lord why me? We may feel all alone in these times yet we need to remember that even though we may be uncertain God is not, He is very much in control. When trouble turned up the Psalmist turned to truth, looking to the Lord. First who are you looking to for Help, and second are you living with:

• Hope

It is in the hardships that we discover hope, because in the chaos we can draw close and cling to Christ. Do you know what the most frequent promise in scripture is? “I will be with you” Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We don’t have to wait for the next life to have hope, we can have hope even in our times of hurting. Jesus came so that we could have life, and have it abundantly, John 10:10. Hope should cause us to have both a spiritual assessment, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” ss well as sweet assurance “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Notice that it is in the middle of his misery that the psalmist’s finds hope. What is interesting to note is that at this point nothing has changed when it comes to his circumstances. It’s not that hope is hiding it’s that we need to stop and take a spiritual assessment. We need to realize what is real and what is relevant. “Why my soul, are you downcast” In the time of trouble we must turn to truth, we must walk by faith and not by feeling. When we are in the midst of despair and discouragement we can say just like the old song “It is well with my soul” not because of our situation but because of our Savior. Just like the psalmist we too can “praise him, my Savior and my God.” Who is your help and hope in the hardships? So many people look to everything other than Jesus but nothing in this world can give you the hope, joy and peace that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ. Is your soul thirsty for the source of life, the living God? Will you make time to meet with Him today?

Ephesians 6:10-13, 14

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

In Ephesians 6 Paul introduces us to God’s awesome armor as well as the real war that is being waged in this world. It is the third piece of armor, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, that help us to gain a firm footing as we stand against Satan’s strategies. When it comes to a fight seasoned soldiers know the importance of good footwear. The Roman soldiers of Paul’s day wore shoes called caligae, these were heavy-soled hobnailed military boots were worn by all ranks up to and including centurions. Even though caligae seem to resemble our modern day sandals they were actually marching boots. They were designed to reduce the likelihood of blisters forming during forced marches, and their open design allowed for a free flow of air to the feet to combat disabling foot conditions like trench foot. Caligae were constructed from three leather layers with iron hobnails hammered into the soles giving the soldier both reinforcement and traction. It was their footwear that provides a firm foothold while marching through treacherous terrain. So when facing the enemy on a slope instead of slipping and stumbling and giving ground they could stand. It was their footwear that helped them to make quick moves without slipping, sliding or surrendering. One of the most overlooked factors in winning the war is actually what’s fitted to your feet. So Paul reminds us to be prepared for the war that will be waged; it is not if we will fight but when. So how does this peace prepare us? The Gospel of peace, just like the footwear that Roman soldiers wore, provides the solid sole, a firm foundation no matter the terrain. We must remember that it is a foundation that has already been laid, God’s provision of peace that we walk in. This “Good News” comes from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, when He paid the penalty for our sin. He brings us peace first by reconciling us to God, Colossians 1:20-21 “and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” Because as Romans 5:10 reminds us, we were enemies of God, “while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” but now we are His family by faith, Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” God is now our strength and refuge, our feet are fitted in His provision of peace enabling us to proceed.  We stand on the foundation of forgiveness, resting in His redemption, knowing that we are His and He is ours. Because of the cross of Calvary we can proceed in confident peace without fear for the Lord has promised in 1 Samuel 2:9 that, “He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness”. The psalmist held on to this same assurance when cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me” Psalm 94:18. Without the security that comes from having our feet firmly planted in faith we would fail, apart from the Word of God it’s just a slippery slope. Not only can we stand against the strategies of Satan but we can proclaim God’s peace to a hopeless and hurting world.  We are called to go forth into battle under Christ’s banner, announcing His plan of peace to all people. Are you engaged in the battle, are you boldly proclaiming His message of mercy?  Isaiah 52:7 reminds us: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” Peace is practical it’s where the sole meets the soil, it provides the way to win the war. Are you resting on the solid sole of peace, are you standing firm in the faith? If we only give “peace” a loosely fitting position in our lives, then attacks of our adversary will take us down. We need to let His provision of peace permeate our minds and engage our emotions in a confidence peace that can overcome our carnal panic. It is His peace that allows us to move out in conquering faith despite what we may see or hear. It is this aggressive peace that puts us in a position to look directly into the face of fear and confront the challenge instead of cowering and giving ground.  God’s perfect plan is that His prevailing and conquering peace will dominate and direct your life. Only His prevailing and conquering peace can hold you in place when the devil is trying to drive you back. The call for God’s children is to stand, In Ephesians 6 we are called to “Stand” in 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul urges us, “Watch, stand fast in the faith…” and 2 Corinthians 1:24, Paul says, “…for by faith you stand.” We are called to stand strong and secure in the firm footing that peace provides. Are you standing on scripture, on the spoken promises of God? In this life there will be dark discouraging moments when you will be tempted to turn and run instead of resist. What is it that is going to keep you in place when the wicked winds pound and opposition threatens to overwhelm you?  Only the peace of God can hold you in place, just like the roots of a tree that resists the storm holding it fast in the midst of the furry, so His peace will provide us protection in the wicked winds of this war. Are your feet firmly planted in the soil of God’s Word, are you grounded in the peace of God? Not only will His peace protect but it also provides the way to stand secure in this war because there is more power in God’s peace than in the one who prowls.