By Randy Garrison

If you spend much time watching the national news, news channels or following social media what is happening around our nation, state and even our community sometimes, one can wonder how can these things be happening here, in the greatest nation on earth. People, it would seem, have lost all sense of reason and morality. Gunman killing policemen, unhappy employees going into their places of employment and taking lives of folks they worked with, around the country. Other areas folks are rioting and destroying lives and property.  Very few days go by that we do not hear of arrests reports of meth labs, women giving birth to babies addicted to drugs, people killing others over a disagreement and loss of respect for human life. These types of events make me wonder what can happen next. It almost makes one want to crawl under a rock and not wander back out. I fear for the lives of who are policemen and other law enforcement officers, and others that are responsible for keeping the peace. I fear for the world our children are going to inherit, and I fear for our nation that we are going to destroy ourselves from within.

Even trying not to dwell on the negative it is hard to keep a positive outlook and not let ourselves become hardened to what is happening around us. 

The scripture below has been preached at First Methodist, and I am sure most churches and I do think it applies here as well.

The apostle Paul reminds us as he speaks to the church at Philippi:

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

So in all things that occur in our life we know God is near, we are not alone, we do not have to be anxious and worry about things that are out of our control. We pray for protection and for God to be with us during our trials and tribulations.  Even when we find it hard to understand how our prayers are answered, His peace and love are always there for us, even if we do not always want to accept the outcome. Surrounded by His grace there is never a doubt that we are blessed, no matter what happens in our life and whatever may come our way. 

As the lyrics from Casting Crowns reminds us:

“I’ll praise you in the storm, and I will life my hands, For You are Who You are, no matter where I am.” Well if we were ever in a storm, that time is here. Most of us probably never thought we would see some of the things that we are witnessing in our nation today. Regardless of which political side you may stand on, I am not sure how you could not be worried about our state of affairs.

But through it all, God is in control and in Him I will place my faith and hope.

May God protect those in danger and bless our nation.