This winter has been tough on me health wise. Usually I might get one or two colds and they usually are not that bad. For whatever reason this year I have had several colds that have really sapped my strength and energy, joints hurt, and I don’t feel like exercising. I almost get over one, and BAM, another one comes along. I have asked myself why is this year different than others, and why am I coming down with these colds? Some of the answers I believe are 1) Carolyn and I teach our kids to share, and they share with us the colds they pick up at school or daycareJ; 2) Being a pastor I interact with a lot of people and I can be exposed to something in the community or at a meeting even if people I am seeing do not know they are contagious and there seems to be a lot of colds going around; 3) I am getting older.
Getting older is something all of us face, but at the same time many of us do not want to do so. Getting older means our bodies do not bounce back like they used to do. We are not so limber, energy levels drop, and we begin to look back at the glory days of our youth. Getting older also means we begin to lose friends and loved ones to death, to moves, to marriage, and careers. We might begin to worry about what is going to happen in the twilight of our years, who will take care of us, or any number of other questions that concern wellbeing or mortality?
Lent is a season to examine our mortality. It can also be a time to reaffirm our trust in the faithfulness of God. Scripture tells us that our days upon the earth are numbered, that we will age, and diseases and infirmities will come our way. We also learn Death can come at any age, and people mourn the loss regardless of the age of the deceased. At the same time Scripture reminds us that God is with us through all of our hurts, illnesses, and death. We are told that all those who call upon the name of Jesus, crucified, risen, and coming again, will be saved, and not only saved, but on the day of the Lord’s return will rise with body and mind made whole and perfect.
Is it easy to trust in the faithfulness of God? For many the answer is no, it is not easy. It takes work and a willingness to work on our relationship with the Triune God. Our trust can be weakened by our distance from the Lord, by occurrences in our lives that bring us down, by doubts, fears, and personal desires. The way we build the trust in God’s faithfulness is to spend time with the Lord in devotions, in service, in worship, and in corporate and individual study. It is God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection that saves us, but growth in that grace, and the ability to stay deeply rooted in the grace, takes work.
This Lenten season I am encouraging you to spend more time in worship, in study, in the spiritual disciplines to help strengthen your faith and build your trust in God. Also, be willing to talk to God about your hurts, concerns, and your worries. Remember God wants All of us, not just part of us.
Blessings,
Pastor Dave
