PBPC Daily - Thursday, April 23

Dear Friends,

Good morning and welcome to Thursday.

In times of trouble and uncertainty, it is natural for us to look for comfort and security. As we are continuing to shelter in place, I find myself hoping for many things: I hope that the "curve" will flatten out and that we avoid the worst of this pandemic; I hope that a vaccine will be developed quickly; I hope that the government and provide enough assistance to keep individuals and businesses from going under financially; I hope that our economy and way of life will open up soon and begin to return to some semblance of normal.

In all of these hopes, I realize that there is an object to my hope - I am hoping in someone or something - our government, our medical and scientific leaders, our financial institutions, and even our American ideals of progress and problem-solving. And it isn't wrong to hope.

But the Bible tells us that ultimately our trust must be in the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Everything else will eventually fail us, and the hope that we place in people, institutions, and nations creates the danger for us of making them into false gods.

⁹ O Israel, trust in the Lord!
   He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
   He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
   He is their help and their shield.

¹² The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;
   he will bless the house of Israel;
   he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³ he will bless those who fear the Lord,
   both small and great.

Let us continue to hope, and especially to pray for our leaders and decision-makers and those on the front lines of this crisis. But let us put our trust in the Lord, because whatever happens, we belong to Him.

Blessings,

Pastor Chris