If you say anything near the word psychedelic, images of drug use and hippies all come to mind. And of course, that is where the term came to be widely used and also adopted by Webster’s dictionary. TV and movies have tried to reproduce the effects that mind altering drugs have on people and even though video effects have improved dramatically, they still fall short of the true perception each individual will experience. It just goes to show, if you aren’t going through it, you cannot understand it or describe it.
Today there are so many people who are hurting in so many different ways, and they cannot adequately reproduce the feelings they have about their struggles. Someone loses a longtime job, a marriage breaks up, an illness unexpectedly occurs, a person is just about to drown in this depressed state of mind…all very real problems faced every day by many. All of the above and many others affect two things: our mind and our heart. In Missouri they used to say, “If you don’t like the weather, then wait around, it will change.” That statement made in jest about weather is a reality in today’s world of uncertainty and stress. One thing is for sure: there will be tough times that will come our way. There is no doubt about it. How we handle those tough times is the issue. Our first source of strength is God’s Word. It is where we find wisdom, strength, peace, and hope. Think about it — it’s not like we don’t know that we are going to face various trials, because we do know. Just look at 1 Peter...
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
--1 Peter 1:3-9
In the midst of these tough times, we do need one major thing…COMFORT! To be comforted in knowing that God will deliver us; to be comforted in knowing that God is with us; to be comforted that there is hope! That really makes all these other emotions that are brought on by tough times seem to lessen and even subside. Even though we cannot understand the psychedelic emotions each of us are experiencing, we can see when a person is at peace with God and themselves. Their face is different. Not so stressed, but calm…comforted. God’s comfort has a way of healing the stresses of life and how they affect each of us.
What mental and emotional state are you in right now? Are you turning to God’s Word and wisdom to help you not only make it through, but defeat it? Now is the time to get refocused on looking at life from God’s perspective. Come to the God of all comfort. Life that seems almost psychedelic and warped from your perspective is much clearer from His perspective. It’s according to what state of mind you are in that makes the difference. Let’s get in a God state of mind and see God’s hand working in an extraordinary way. Read this scripture and see what it says to you: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
We can share this load with God, and with each other, and find true victory in troubled times. It may seem psychedelic and almost unbelievable what you are experiencing right now, but remember, God can make it a better day. Take comfort. He is faithful!!
David Warren
Worship Pastor
No comments:
Post a Comment