Courage Failing

November 29, 2021

Scripture

People’s courage will fail completely as they realize what is threatening the world, for the very powers of heaven will be shaken …. Be on your guard – see to it that your minds are never clouded by dissipation or drunkenness or the worries of this life, or else that day may catch you like the springing of a trap….. You must be vigilant at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to come safely through all that is going to happen, and stand in the presence of the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:26, 34-36 NLT))

Courage Failing

Rivers in the clouds is a new one on me and sadly they descended on parts of our west coast with devastating power. Dykes broke. Landslides roared down. Lives, livestock, infrastructure, whole communities were destroyed. We searched for words to describe it – “Biblical proportions” and “apocalyptic” among them.

Apparently, it’s human nature to be asleep at the switch and not heed the calls to prepare for these sorts of events that were predicted or even work toward assuaging the damage we are all doing to creation.

We lack courage and preparedness to work toward the unexpected events in life so we just go about our business. Even in Jesus’ day he was warning about these events as normal circumstances in life but said to be prepared and not lose courage or hope.

We need to pray and pay today for courage to do what is good and right for our creation and for the generations who will inherit from us. Our faith isn’t just an escape from all the challenges we face but the divine power to engage and love the creation as the Creator does - and leave it for our grandkids in better shape than we received it.

A Prayer for Today

Holy God, maker of the skies above, lowly Christ, born amidst the growing earth, spirit of Life, wind over the flowing waters, in earth, sea and sky, you are there. O hidden mystery, sun behind all suns, soul behind all souls, in everything we touch, in everyone we meet, your presence is round us, and we give you thanks. When we have not touched, but trampled you in creation, when we have not met but missed you in one another, forgive us …. For Jesus sake