She is not afraid...

• She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

I don't think you can look at any form of media these days--TV, newspapers, internet--without seeing a lot of gloom and doom about the economy. Stockmarkets worldwide are swinging wildly up and down; banks are closing; huge corporations are declaring bankruptcy. The media is full of stories lately about the dust bowl years, and the depression era of the 1930's. A lot of people are scared and worried.

Even the experts agree, that while there were some problems that have come to light, much of what has ensued has been because people are reacting and not responding. They aren't always looking at what the core issues are. They miss the point.

I heard an excellent sermon this past Sunday that was along these lines. In Judges 6:1-10, the people of Israel were living in a time of fear and poverty. They grew their crops and tended to their animals, and every year for seven years their enemies came and stole everything away, leaving behind waste and destruction. They cried out to God because of their enemies, and He sent a prophet, telling them that they feared the gods of their enemies more than the God who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, and brought them to the promised land. They were disobedient, and their worst problem was not their enemies, it was themselves. When they got their focus back on what it should have been, God raised up a deliverer, one who overcame the enemy, not through strength of force, but by being obedient to the Lord and allowing Him to give them the victory.

I know that sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are beyond our control or even influence. Death, illness, divorce, loss of employment, economic downturns are just a few of many things that can happen to bring us to a place of fear and poverty. Doesn't matter whether it's poverty of money and possessions, or poverty of spirit. If we don't watch it, we get so caught up our lack that we miss the point.

I certainly don't know what will happen with the stockmarket or big business, but God is still on the throne, regardless of the Dow-Jones average. All I can do is look to myself, to see if I am walking in obedience or disobedience, and look to God to supply the rest.

I am reminded of the words of an old song, "many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know Who holds the future, and I know Who holds my hand."

Until next time...