TRUTH
The streets are full once more of voices echoing, “Hard times are upon us.” In reply to such conclusions, some of us draw in a deep breath in an attempt to damn up the floods of financial strains we would rather avoid discussing and others of us merely nod in agreement, being fortunate enough to not yet feel the symptoms of hardship…
Undoubtedly we all see it, and hear it, “America’s bail out, Mexico’s corruption, Europe’s credit crunch and China’s unemployment crisis.” It is not hard to imagine the millions of stressed, depressed and frustrated facial twinges contorting the faces of our fellow man while they sit in front of TVs or Computers or listen to their radios to such news. If you were to catch your own reflection in the midst of these headlines, what would you see? Do your ears seem to be honing in for answers or words of hope? Have you been probing conversations to find that secret recipe?
There is advice of all kinds to help us through the ‘hard times’ of life we are destined to live. Simplified and rephrased to fit our time we heed the wise and make efforts such as serving God rather than money, living within our means and utilizing an effective accounting system. But what is most amazing to me is that even in our ‘historical’ state of affairs; we are not the first, nor the last to face such a challenge and to need the words of the wise and truths of our God to guide us through.
This weekend, I opened a book that my Grandmother had gifted to her Grandmother in 1937. The poet, Edgar A Guest, was a survivor of the depression and captured in his poems the heart of the people around him. He communicates the perseverance and goodness of man that can survive in ‘hard times’ if one so chooses. That same evening, I opened my Bible to read words from a Creator who loved us enough to come down among us and die for us to save us from our sins. This book was composed for us since the beginning of time, and in it we find not only the cry people in ‘hard times’ by the promises of provision and blessing and protection that only God can make.
One man cannot give you the pearl of truth that will save you from the whispers of, “it’s only going to get worse before it gets better,” but each of us can pray and find strength in the following words of rhyme and verse and allow our eyes to open to the truth that we are not alone, and these ‘hard knocks’ are not forever.
“The Choice” – Written by Edgar A Guest circa 1933
And one man said:
“All hope is dead and I wish I were too! For rough is the way and the skies are gray and I can’t get work to do. I’ve lost the things which I thought were mine, and it’s now no use for the sun to shine.”
In similar straits, betrayed by the fates and stripped of his worldly gear, another man said: “Well, I’m far from dead, and I don’t want to die this year! There’s a lot proved false which I thought was true, but I want to be here when the sun breaks through.”
All men must choose of these opposite views, and it’s easy enough to fail, if you are willing to quit you can argue for it with a truly deplorable tale, but always the difficult thing to do is to stick to a problem and see it through.
“Courage” – Written by Edgar A Guest circa 1933
This is courage: to remain brave and patient under pain;
Cool and calm and firm to stay in the presence of dismay;
Not to flinch when foes attack, even though you’re beaten back;
Still to cling to what is right, when the wrong possess might.
This is courage: to be true to the best men see in you;
To remember, tempest-tossed, not to whimper, “All is lost!”
But to battle to the end while you still have strength to spend;
Not to cry that hope is gone while you’ve life to carry on.
This is courage: to endure hurt and loss you cannot cure;
Patiently and undismayed, facing life still unafraid;
Glad to live and glad to take, bravely for your children’s sake;
Burdens they would have to bear if you fled and ceased to care.
James 1: 2-3 – Written by James the half-brother to Jesus appox. 45-50 AD – referring to trials:
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Matthew 6:31-34 – Written by Matthew the Disciple between 50-60 AD – Quoting Jesus:
"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” NASB
Romans 4:20-21 – Written by Apostle Paul in 57-58 AD – referring to Abraham:
“yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised He was also able to perform.” NASB
Colossians 1:17 – Written by Apostle Paul in 61 AD – referring to God:
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NASB
Be encouraged by the truths of old, for they stand throughout time to hold up those of us who are living and needing of strength.
Be blessed,
Sherry Fowler