Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19, NIV)
If you’re still wondering just how tenuous life can be, here are two daunting words for you: Hurricane Matthew.
Both the Web.com and Symetra Tours cancelled events this weekend. Zach Johnson tweeted of his family’s evacuation and asked for prayers.
God not only knows what is coming, he knows just what we will need when it arrives.You don’t mess with a force this strong. Not the hurricanes of the Southeast, not the freezes of the North, not the tornadoes of the Plains, not the earthquakes of California.
But the tempests in life, the terrors, don’t come only from the weather. They come too from notices in the mail, phone calls from afar, and face-to-face conversations—all of which can bring the kind of surprise we call “nasty.” These can turn your life around in ways 150-mph winds only dream of.
Consider this fundamental observation about life: today is not tomorrow.
Just when all the bills are paid, the vacation is planned, and the table is set for a holiday repast—this is the time to beware. I don’t say this as a prophet of doom or even a run-of-the-mill pessimist. Actually, I say this as a golfer who has seen too many birdies followed by bogeys, too many great rounds spoiled in the closing holes.
No, it doesn’t take a genius to recognize that every day brings a new set of needs, whether it’s managing the increase or eking things out in a season of scarcities. I cannot count on the circumstances.
In the most challenging of times, though, we may be blessed with the care of a dear friend or the advice of a trusted mentor. We may even find an unusual strength for the day. But what we must see is that these gifts come by the hand of the Lord. It is he, David wrote, who “daily bears our burdens.”
God not only knows what is coming, he knows just what we will need when it arrives. And so that the weight of it will not crush us, he bears these burdens, lifting them from our backs by the touch of his Spirit and the provision of his people. This is the God who will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). This is the God who is there for us today and will, by his promise, be there for us tomorrow.
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Jeff Hopper
October 10, 2016
Copyright 2016 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.