Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In such trying times perhaps this hymn may hit home:
Is your burden heavy
As you bear it all alone
Does the road you travel
Harbor danger yet unknown
Are you growing weary
In the struggle of it all
Jesus will help you
When on His name you call
He is always there hearing every prayer
Faithful and true
Walking by our side in His love we hide
All the day through
Karl Wallenda lived on top of the world. The aerialist thrilled crowds with his daring stunts on the high wire—before that fateful day in 1978, when his show ended. Wallenda plunged 75 feet to his death before an audience of thousands in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
What happened? His widow explained that Karl has never been one to know fear. Self-confidence marked his style—until he started worrying. Little details of safety preoccupied his mind. He checked and double-checked the tightrope. Here was a different Karl. Instead of putting his energies into walking the wire, he concentrated on not falling. From then on, Wallenda became an accident just waiting to happen. It was inevitable that he fall, or so his widow felt.
Motivational speakers and managers call this the Wallenda factor. Beware of being so afraid of failure that you dwell on the negatives. Be careful in a prudent way, but don't be paralyzed by a fear of failure.
“Worry is blind and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Matthew 11:30; Psalm 84:11.
Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.
The faithful discharge of today's duties is the best preparation for tomorrow's trials. Do not gather together all tomorrow's liabilities and cares and add them to the burden of today. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:34.
Let us be hopeful and courageous. Despondency in God's service is sinful and unreasonable. He knows our every necessity. To the omnipotence of the King of kings our covenant-keeping God unites the gentleness and care of the tender shepherd. His power is absolute, and it is the pledge of the sure fulfillment of His promises to all who trust in Him. He has means for the removal of every difficulty, that those who serve Him and respect the means He employs may be
sustained. His love is as far above all other love as the heavens are above the earth. He watches over His children with a love that is measureless and everlasting.” {Ministry of Healing, 481, 482}
“We may well have anxiety and anticipate danger and loss, for it is certain to befall us. But when we really believe that God loves us and means to do us good we shall cease to worry about the future. We shall trust God as a child trusts a loving parent. Then our troubles and torments will disappear, for our will is swallowed up in the will of God.” {Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, 100, 101}
“We are to let nothing, small or great, unbalance us. Nine-tenths of the trials and perplexities that so many worry over are either imaginary, or brought upon themselves by their own wrong course. They should cease to talk of these trials, and to magnify them. The Christian may commit every worriment, every disturbing thing to God. Nothing is too small for our compassionate Saviour to notice; nothing is too great for him to carry.” {Signs of the Times, December 17, 1885}
Indeed, many of our worries, never materialize. Foe Pisciotto, chief of internal operations at Crocker Anglo National Bank in San Francisco, almost fainted when he entered his office one morning. All 12 of the girls who operate the complicated banking machines had come to work in maternity dresses—and the thought of breaking a dozen new girls all at once struck him like a sledge hammer. As he was tottering toward the window ledge, the 12 girls chorused, "April Fool!"
The late Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate prayed this prayer at the opening of the Senate:
"Help us to do our very best this day and be content with today's troubles, so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow. Save us from the sin of worrying, lest stomach ulcers be the badge of our lack of faith. Amen "
“If we educated our souls to have more faith, more love, greater patience, a more perfect trust in our heavenly Father, we would have more peace and happiness as we pass through the conflicts of this life. The Lord is not pleased to have us fret and worry ourselves out of the arms of Jesus. He is the only source of every grace, the fulfillment of every promise, the realization of every blessing. . . . Our pilgrimage would indeed be lonely were it not for Jesus. "I will not leave you comfortless," (John 14:18) He says to us. Let us cherish His words, believe His promises, repeat them by day and meditate upon them in the night season, and be happy.” {Our High Calling, 120}
Martin Luther in his autobiography says, I have one preacher I love better than any other; it is my little, tame robin, who preaches to me daily. I put his crumbs upon my window sill, especially at night. He hops onto the sill when he wants his supply, and takes as much as he desires to satisfy his need. From thence he always hops to a little tree close by, and lifts up his voice to God, and sings his carol of praise and gratitude, tucks his little head under his wings, and goes fast to sleep, to leave tomorrow to look after itself.
“In trusting in God continually there is safety, there will not be a constant fear of future evil. This borrowed care and anxiety will cease. We have a heavenly Father who careth for His children, and will and does make His grace sufficient in every time of need.” {Testimonies for the Church, 2:72}
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalms 9:9-10 KJV)
Y será Jehová refugio al pobre, Refugio para el tiempo de angustia. Y en ti confiarán los que conocen tu nombre; Por cuanto tú, oh Jehová, no desamparaste á los que te buscaron. (Salmos 9:9-10 SRV)
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Psalms 32:7 KJV)
Tú eres mi refugio; me guardarás de angustia; Con cánticos de liberación me rodearás. (Selah.) (Salmos 32:7 SRV)
<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (Psalms 46:1-3 KJV)
<<Al Músico principal: de los hijos de Coré: Salmo sobre Alamoth.>> DIOS es nuestro amparo y fortaleza, Nuestro pronto auxilio en las tribulaciones. Por tanto no temeremos aunque la tierra sea removida; Aunque se traspasen los montes al corazón de la mar. Bramarán, turbaránse sus aguas; Temblarán los montes á causa de su braveza. (Selah.) (Salmos 46:1-3 SRV)
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalms 55:22 KJV)
Echa sobre Jehová tu carga, y él te sustentará; No dejará para siempre caído al justo. (Salmos 55:22 SRV)
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (Psalms 91:15 KJV)
Me invocará, y yo le responderé: Con él estare yo en la angustia: Lo libraré, y le glorificaré. (Salmos 91:15 SRV)
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42 KJV)
Pero respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Marta, Marta, cuidadosa estás, y con las muchas cosas estás turbada: Empero una cosa es necesaria; y María escogió la buena parte, la cual no le será quitada. (Lucas 10:41-42 SRV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.... But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, 19 KJV)
Por nada estéis afanosos; sino sean notorias vuestras peticiones delante de Dios en toda oración y ruego, con hacimiento de gracias. Y la paz de Dios, que sobrepuja todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros entendimientos en Cristo Jesús.... Mi Dios, pues, suplirá todo lo que os falta conforme á sus riquezas en gloria en Cristo Jesús. (Filipenses 4:6-7, 19 SRV)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)
Echando toda vuestra solicitud en él, porque él tiene cuidado de vosotros. (1 Pedro 5:7 SRV)
"Where have you been, Father?" asked the family of Abraham Lincoln.
"To the war department," he answered.
"Any news?"
"Yes, plenty of news, but no good news. It is dark, dark everywhere."
He then reached forth one of his long arms and took a small Bible from a stand near the head of the sofa, opened its pages, and was soon absorbed in reading them.
Fifteen minutes passed, and on glancing at the sofa his wife observed that the face of the president was more cheerful. His dejected expression was gone, and his countenance was lighted up with new resolution and hope. Wondering at the marked change, and desiring to know what book of the Bible had comforted Mr. Lincoln, she walked gently around the sofa and saw that he was reading the comforting book of Job.
Blessed is the man who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night.
May the Lord continue to watch over each and every one of you.
Pastor Richard Parent