THE ONLY WAY FORWARD
Proverb 3:5-8 NLT
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.
If you’re like me, it honestly feels like we are surrounded in an ocean of evil these days. As Bonhoeffer watched aghast at the rise of Nazism and Jew hatred, as Churchill watched in dismay at the rise of communism and Stalin’s nefarious machinations after WW2, we are watching the unprecedented elevation and normalization of evil. I have never in my lifetime witnessed anything like it. Both culturally and personally, things pressing in on our lives that could drive us to despair, overwhelming rage, worry and anxiety, a total collapse of the will to go on. Everywhere it seems, trust has been completely shattered, institutions become so corrupt, people so duplicitous, treacherous and unreliable, liars so successful that it’s hard to describe. Since 2018 I’ve seen it everywhere.
It feels as though we’ve been dropped into the middle of the ocean, no land in sight, no idea where or how far we are from land, no idea which direction to paddle to safety, with no imminent rescue in sight. As the weight of reality starts to set in, we suddenly realize we’re in shark infested waters, circling us, waiting for us to fall into the water from our little boats, overcome by weariness and exhaustion.
As a Christian, the present cultural realities are as tormenting as they were to the soul of righteous Lot, who was tortured and tormented night and day by the evil, lawless deeds of the wicked surrounding him.
I believe there is only one solution, one way forward for us as disciples of Christ. Now more than ever, we must trust in the Lord with all our hearts. We must place all our confidence in the Lord. He is the only one worthy of all our faith, trust and confidence. We must not lean on our own understanding, or try to cope with all these matters on our own. We must seek the Lord in all we do, desperately crying out to God, trusting him to lead us through this colossal, cultural, monstrous mess, and the ways it personally impacts our lives. Over and over again, we must give the mental and emotional anguish caused by the tormenting evil around us, to God. He will not only carry the weight of these burdens, but he will direct our path, showing us the way through it all. We must, in deep humility, recognize our own frailty, our own powerlessness, acknowledging His Greatness, His Power, His Perfect and Righteous ways. We must turn our backs on evil, have no part of it, take no part in it, immersing ourselves in God’s truth. In doing these things, God promises us renewed health, and vitality. He will sustain our mental and emotional well being. He will give us the strength we so desperately need to go on.
Time and again, over the course of half a century walking with the Lord, this tried and true path is the only reason I am still standing today, still walking with my Lord. This is the only way forward!
I’m reminded of The Apostle Paul’s sustaining words — Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever. Amen!
Isaiah 40:31 NLT
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
I believe this song will be a blessing to you. I wrote it years ago. Countless times it has ministered to my soul.
https://strongdisciple.com/wp-
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
