In His Hands

How do we make sense of this time in our world? Perhaps you’re experiencing COVID-fatigue these days. You’re just so tired of the whole thing. Maybe you’re on edge with the recent riots in our cities. Or maybe you’re anxious about the upcoming election. Will your choice candidate(s) win or lose? And how will you feel if they lose?

We live in a very challenging time in our country. I don’t know one person who isn’t intimately affected by one or all these events. For me personally, I’ve found that I can’t go a day without running to my God, for help, perspective and hope. I also find comfort when I delve into understanding God’s sovereignty.

What comes to mind when you think about the sovereignty of God? Sovereignty means “supreme power or authority.” How do we make sense of this in terms of God Himself? To be simple, God is God. There is no one else like Him. He has supreme power over everything.

Sometimes, I see God like other humans. I place Him on human level because I’m human. That’s where I go wrong. He is God! It is through Scripture that my mind and heart are lifted to a greater understanding of His sovereignty. Here are a few verses to meditate on in the coming days:

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” Psalm 115:3

“Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.” Daniel 2:19-21

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17

“And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

God’s plans are greater than our plans. He sees the whole picture. We see what we see. While we are concerned with our own comfort and what we want, He is concerned with the souls of people. We can actually look to His sovereignty and find peace and hope, knowing how much He loves us.

With these world events we are experiencing, it can feel like you're out of control. You can feel very helpless. Remember, you can quickly turn to the One who has the whole world in his hands. He’s got COVID in his hands. He’s got the election in His hands. He’s got the riots and unrest in His hands. He is sovereign. God’s peace be with you.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Wheelchair Living

I’ve had my share of navigating older folks around in wheelchairs earlier in my career. I remember training our Dallas nursing home staff to help bridge the gap between sympathy and empathy by giving them an extended “experience” in the wheelchair. You see things differently from a wheelchair.

Fast-forward many years. Now, it’s my husband in a wheelchair.  Ben, who recently broke his pelvis in a bike accident, is experiencing life from a wheelchair. As much as Ben would like to walk, it’s necessary that he wait. The wheelchair does something for him he can’t do himself.

I would say all of us would prefer to walk, rather than tool around in a wheelchair. Ben sure would! The wheelchair is that reminder that sometime in our life, we may experience a weakness or inability that makes us dependent upon something or someone else. Most all of us would prefer independence. But, in Scripture, we see that God anticipated our weakness....

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26)

As a Christian, I have the Holy Spirit living in me. He actually helps me in my weakness! He does something for me that I can’t do myself, just like the wheelchair!

Ben and I are not left to our own resources to get through this hard time. We have the Holy Spirit who helps us pray. He counsels and comforts us in this challenging season. He prays for us when we struggle to know how to pray. God literally carries us. 

Where do you need God to carry you today? Are your fearful of the election results? Are you struggling in a decision? Are you smack dab in a big trial where you feel drained and inadequate? Do you need wisdom for a challenging relationship? Are you grieving something or someone?

Rest in our Father God’s love. He is very present. He longs to carry you too! He may not take away the circumstance, but He will be so present in the circumstance.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. 

Desperately Need Help?

Have you ever reached a point where you desperately needed help? The longer we live, we will eventually be in a situation where we need help with relationships, physical challenges, life decisions, finances or another challenge. What do you do when you desperately need help?

Bartimaeus is one of my favorites in the Bible. He was desperately in need of help. In Mark 10:46-52, we read that Bartimaeus was blind. He also was a beggar, which meant that he had no one to take care of him. In the text, we see him sitting beside the road begging. When he heard that Jesus was coming through town, he began to yell, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” That didn’t sit well with the crowd. They told him to shut up. I imagine many were thinking he was really crying out “Give me money!”

But, Bartimaeus wasn’t asking for money. He was asking for mercy. In Mark 10:49 it says “Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’” Bartimaeus got up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him “What do you want me to do for you?”  Bartimaeus said “ Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus told him his faith had healed him. In other words, Bartimaeus knew it was Jesus and He had faith that Jesus could heal him.  

On the outside looking in, I could look at this whole scenario and judge Bartimaeus. He probably looked scruffy and was certainly annoying with all his yelling. Why did he have to say the same thing over and over? You know how easy it is to judge your fellow human, right?

But, it was Bartimaeus who had faith! He believed Jesus COULD heal Him. It was the crowds that really couldn’t see. Blindness comes in all sorts of ways, doesn’t it?

What miracle are you asking God for today? Do you really believe that God can do anything? Did you know that God hears your cries for help? Don’t give up asking God to work a miracle in your life. It just takes a very small amount of faith. Just believe. God is able.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. 

Reminders

I feel like I need post-it notes all around me these days. I need reminders of those things I need to remember. I’m not referring to my shopping list or remembering an appointment. I’m referring to reminders for my mind. The spiritual choices I need to make to walk through these challenging days. Here’s a few of my reminders to my self:

Trust God further than what you can see- I’ve been learning that my trust muscle can only grow stronger when it’s used regularly. During our current trial, I’m pleading with God to trust Him when I can’t see the future or know the outcome.

The old song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, reminds me of what I CAN see. I can see Jesus taking care of us, meeting each need, walking with me through every challenge.

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!
Refrain: Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.  (Songwriter: Helen Howarth Lemmel)

Don’t get distracted by opinions of others. We live in a day and age where we can be very focused on “what others think.” Whether on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, we’ve all probably clicked some form of a like button. We signal to others what we think of what someone has shared. It’s a sort of validation. Whether it's social media or someone just sharing their opinion, we can get sidetracked by someone's opinion. 

How do you handle not getting validation? How do you handle being judged by others? Staying the course for me in this season means I must place my mind and heart more on the things of God and his opinion and less on what others think. We can get so sidetracked by the opinions of others. They can rule our hearts, our minds and our emotions. Don’t let them!

Studying God’s word helps me focus on His opinion. In Galations 1:10, I see this exact concern being questioned: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” I want to please God and I need this reminder!

Never stop praying! Prayer, for me, is an ongoing conversation with God. Sometimes I talk. Sometimes I listen. Sometimes, I wait. I can talk to God about anything. Just yesterday, I was asking God to help me in an upcoming horse show. I needed Him to help me gain confidence in doing a certain pattern. I kind of laughed at myself in asking Him about something that seemed so trivial. Yet, as I practiced that very night, I did do better and I did gain confidence. God cares about EVERYTHING! So, one of my reminders is to always involve Him in every aspect of my life! Prayer is my life line and I must remember that!

What reminders to you need to help you through this season? Take time for your spiritual health. Spend some time writing in your journal. Ask God for His reminders for you!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.