A meditation on our Romans and Jonah Course
Faith in times of desperation is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The most obvious example is the Book of Job, but the following readings all deal with hard times when faith is tested:
Those of us who have followed the Romans course will have submitted themselves to a journey, compared to an expedition on rugged terrain. To reach the Place of Peace we have to crawl out of the valley of sin -often with the ground slipping beneath our feet- and scale the Crux of Salvation. Even after reaching the Place of Peace, the Ridge of Freedom is a steep and narrow ascent (don’t look down, keep your eyes focussed ahead) before we reach the Summit of Hope. We know the journey is never easy. Our life on Earth is hard. Some appear to suffer more than others. I am sure we have said or heard others say: ‘He doesn’t seem to have much luck!’ or ‘It’s just one thing after another: I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.’ We might even rail angrily: ‘Haven’t I suffered enough without this on top of everything else!’
The opening verses of Psalm 105 are an acclamation of praise and thanksgiving. The same words were sung in celebration as David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. It is a song of adoration, proclaiming His holy name and His mighty deeds. Remember, at all times His miracles and judgements; remember that you are the chosen people!
But sometimes, when we are struggling with grief, ill health, depression or loneliness we may feel that all hope is lost and our faith is put to the test. Feelings of abandonment and unworthiness may start to creep in, and we search inside ourselves for solutions. Psalm 105 offers advice, reminding us to dwell on the wonders God has done, His unbreakable promise to us, His chosen ones. When we feel lost and alone, remembering His miracles encourages us to keep living close to God. If God seems far away, persist in your search for Him: ‘Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.’ Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. In searching throughout the pages of the Bible we will discover our Loving God, waiting for us to find Him.
The reading from 2 Kings tells of desperate times brought about by severe famine. I don’t think any of us having seen those images of the Ethiopian famine of 1984 will ever be able to forget them. The four desperate lepers at the gates (lepers were forbidden to enter the city) found themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. With a slim chance of survival they took their chances and were rewarded when God intervened.
The good news about Jesus Christ must be shared with others, we mustn’t become so preoccupied with our own faith that we neglect to share the good news with those around us. In the same way, the four men soon realised that they had to share the bounty with their fellow citizens who were starving to death. They could not wait until daylight so they went at once back to the city gates and told the gatekeepers what they had found.
But doubts are strongest when resources are at their lowest, and the focus of the reading turns to the officer at the gates. Preoccupied with the surrounding problems, he fails to grasp the opportunities presented to him. His inability to turn negativity into expectation demonstrates his lack of faith. He questions God and comes to a bad end!
In the reading from Acts, Paul is in Corinth, the political and commercial centre of Greece. Like Ninevah, it is also a city of wickedness and immorality and a mighty challenge for Paul. He finds himself at his wit’s end preaching to the Jews when they become abusive towards him and refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah. In his frustration and anger, he tells them he has done all he can for them, they have refused to listen to the Gospel and they only have themselves to blame when things go wrong for them.
Feeling frustrated, alone and isolated, surrounded by such wickedness and ignorance Paul retires to his room. He knows he has done all he can but is getting nowhere with the Jews of Corinth. When he is at his lowest ebb God comes to him in a dream and reassures Paul: ‘I am with you, no one is going to attack and harm you.’ ‘Keep on speaking. Do not be silent.’ And God directs Paul to like-minded believers in the city who will support and encourage him in his mission.
When we feel ground down, desperate and ‘as a city besieged’ God may seem far away in that moment. But He knows our pain and he shares in it. After all, hands that flung stars into space surrended to cruel nails. We must persist in our search for Him; our loving God is waiting for us to find Him.
I would like to briefly return to the Romans course. Every now and then throughout the journey we were encouraged to rate our assurance of God’s love on a scale from 1-5: 1 being ‘plagued by doubt’ and ‘5’ fully assured. Somewhere in the middle was ‘up and down’ where most of my fellow travellers seemed to be hovering. ‘I don’t think I will ever feel ‘fully assured’, someone tentatively admitted,
But one of the travellers, who had endured tragedy, ill-health, uncertainty and grief, quietly and confidently said ‘I am fully assured.’
Catherine Morrison