Pastor's Corner

It’s March, and that means it’s time to talk about an ongoing problem in our society. Leprechauns. Wearing green makes one invisible to the little jerks, so be sure to avoid getting pinched this St. Patrick’s Day by covering yourself in it. While you’re at it, you should probably wear your lucky socks, sit in that special chair and eat those certain snacks that help ensure your team will win.

It’s a little silly what kind of things some people will place their hope in isn’t it? Personally, as a Type 1 diabetic, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I am eating. I know if I eat the wrong kind of thing, or don’t exercise enough, I can get awful sick. I spend a lot of energy, all year long, doing math in my head, and managing my daily schedule around what my insulin shot is doing. It doesn’t always go as I planned. Some people place their security in money, or popularity, or strength of arms, with mixed results. There is in fact only one thing that can be depended upon to provide for our wellbeing: the love and goodwill of Jesus Christ.

It sounds a little rote, especially if you spend much time in a community of faith. But what does it actually look like to trust in Jesus for security, protection and stability? Does it mean things will always work out as I think it should? Does it mean a big bank account, a healthy body, or a stable government? Well, not according to scripture. If you read the Bible, God seems to spend a lot of time trying to convince us that those kinds of things come and go. Real security and wellbeing are deeper: it rests within our souls.

Have you ever heard the song, “It is well with my soul?” It’s a staple in many local churches. It wonderfully proclaims faith in God in hard times. Do you know the story behind it? The author wrote it in the pit of despair over the tragic loss of his wife and children. Wow. That’s some trust. I can’t imagine anything more horrible than to lose your whole family. How do we build the kind of faith that says “it is well with my soul” from the bottom of the pit? I don’t think the author meant that he was happy, or at peace. I think he meant something more like, “even in the worst possible times, God is with me. He will never leave me. He will take care of me when I can’t take care of myself.” That kind of faith needs cultivation.

The springtime is a great opportunity to practice dependance upon God to get us through the day. We hold Lent during this time: an opportunity to reflect on what will really get us through the big things. It is a chance to let go of silly ideas about where safety and security come from. It is a time to practice abstaining from things that are “important” to us, so that we can build greater dependence on something more important: God. Now, I know I need insulin shots. Until the day the Lord heals my misfunctioning body or takes me home, it is stupid to ignore simple facts. That is why people don’t give up oxygen for Lent. But maybe there is something else I have become a little too “dependent” on to feel OK. What about you? What has been occupying a place in your head and heart that should be occupied by Jesus? How might you use that as an opportunity for personal growth (with the help of God) this spring?

Pastor Evan Elwell

Church of the Nazarene