Pastor's Corner July 2019

Ah, the good old summertime! The kids are out of school, so you take them to the park. Along with other amusements, they can play on the playground equipment. One of my favorites is the teeter-totter (When I was young, we called it a seesaw.). You remember how it works; you and a friend get on opposite ends and when one goes up, the other goes down. Then, the one that was up goes down while the one that was down goes up. If the one going down holds out their legs and lets the board bump the ground, the one at the top gets quite a jolt. If your friend is bigger than you and you haven’t adjusted the board to compensate for the difference, they can take their end down and not push up and just hold you up in the air and you are just stuck. It is very aggravating.

Life is a teeter-totter. The ride is certainly full of ups and downs. Even in the ups (good times), there can be jolts that come near to throwing you off. Also, things beyond your control can bring you down. You can’t know for sure how long the up will last. In addition, during the downs (bad times), there can be lessons to learn and things to gain. It seems easier to call on God and turn to Him during the lows of life.

Where I am headed with all of this is to remind you that through all of life’s ups and downs, highs and lows, wins and losses, and starts and stops, God is always with us to help us, protect us, and teach us. The psalmist puts it this way:

If I ascend to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

Even there Your hand will lead me,

And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

- Psalm 139: 8-10 (NAS)

God is everywhere. You can never be anywhere that He is not. So, in every circumstance and at any time, God is always there on your end of life’s teeter-totter with you. He will help you bounce back up. He will help you hang on through the bumps and jolts. And while the ride is going well, He will laugh and sing with you. Enjoy the ride!

Blessings,

Martin