In the midst of all the challenges facing the church,
negative publicity in the
Washington Post, property condemnation,
etc, we said in last week's sermon that we as a
congregation are facing what over the years the mystics
have called "the long dark night of the soul" These are
days when it feels as though light and hope and joy are
completely absent. Individuals and entire communities
can have these experiences. However, God works through
these desert places to bring us to a deeper relationship
with Him and a better understanding of who we are
spiritually. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul made it clear that
during these times of perplexity we must not minimize
the scope of the problem. He said
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places." My grandmother gave all
this her own shorthand and was fond of saying "the devil
is busy." What do we do in these long dark nights of the
soul? First, we must never be overcome with fear or
despair. God permits certain things to happen, but keep
in mind, God is always in control. In Job's midnight he
understood that God was sovereign. He declared "When God
has tried me I shall come forth as gold." Remember,
faith overcomes fear.
Secondly, in these times we must never take matters into
our own hands. The more we attempt to supply our own
solutions the more we sink into the quicksand of
destruction. These are times when we must authentically
"Let go and let God."
Finally we must examine our relationship with Christ.
Have we really turned over every aspect of our being to
Him? Are there hidden places where we truly don't want
God's saving blood to wash us and make us clean? Rather
than despairing at the long dark night of the soul,
let's see it as an opportunity for our entire church
family to grow in grace.
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Readings for Sunday,
August 5, 2007:
Hosea
11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke
12:13-21 |
