Looking Back...Looking Forward

“O our God… we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
-II Chronicles 20:12

“Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude;
for the battle is not yours but God’s.’”
-II Chronicles 20:15b

The beginning of the year 2008 was one filled with promise and hope. We celebrated the wonderful and profound transitional interim ministry of the Rev. Judith McCullough who concluded her time with us in February, and looked forward to a year that would include both the calling of a new Pastor, and the celebration of the church’s 125th anniversary. After much prayer and discussion, the congregation adopted a new Co-Pastor model of ministry, and we rejoiced as God led the Rev. Whitney Hall to accept a Call to Ministry here in our midst. Pastor Whitney jumped right into things, and thanks to the dedicated efforts of many volunteers, had a new parsonage right next door to the church to live in. As we prepared to enter into the summer months, the mood was one of real excitement and thanksgiving.

Little did any of us know just how quickly that mood would change. Throughout the summer months, the news reports showed a national and worldwide economy in a tailspin. Stocks tumbled. The housing market crashed. Jobs became scarce, and then layoffs began in earnest. By the time we approached our 125th anniversary in November, it was clear our country was facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. And still, things would grow worse. By the year-end, many in our congregation would be without employment. Retirement nest eggs would be, at best, reduced in half, at worst, gone. Mortgage foreclosure became reality for some. The promise and hope of early 2008 was replaced with fear and despair.

If that wasn’t difficult enough, many in our church family suffered physically this year, and we said goodbye to many longtime friends who passed away. The grief that accompanies their departure from our midst is real. They are missed daily. Those who continue their battles with health issues are never far from our hearts and prayers.

2008 is a year we will not soon forget.

I have often times throughout this past year found myself reading through the 20th chapter of the book of Chronicles. The people of God, and their king, Jehoshaphat, are overwhelmed with fear and grief. For all of their enemies have joined forces, and have now hemmed them in, ready for the final assault. There is no escape. There is no way out. They are overwhelmed by the forces lined up against them. And yet, the words… "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

During this deep and dark time in our world, it is clear that all we can do is to keep our eyes on God. Like Jehoshaphat, like Peter when he leaves the comfort and safety of the boat to join Jesus out on the waters of the Sea of Galilee, when we are surrounded by the turmoil and raging tempests of this world, we are called to keep our focus on God, and trust with all of our being that he will fight the battle for us, that he will keep us afloat on the waves, that he will provide for our needs. “Do not fear or be dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

The words of the Rev. Dr. Jay Phelan, President of North Park Theological Seminary, and our guest speaker for our 125th anniversary celebration weekend, echo in my mind through these difficult days. Our calling as followers of Christ is to live each day in service to Him, being his hands and feet here on earth. And as we do so, he cares for us. He provides for our needs. He gives more abundantly than we can know or imagine. We leave the paralysis of worry and fear, for the freedom and joy of trusting in God.

Many experts tell us that 2009 may be worse than 2008. In economic terms, we may not have hit the bottom of the Laffer Curve quite yet. It may take 3-5 years before we see any sort of a sustained rebound. And yet this I know and believe: Our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Our God does not change. He has provided, he provides, he will provide. For 125 years, we have seen the faithfulness of God in this place, through times of plenty and times of want, through war and through peace. Our God has never left us, and will never leave us. And so, in spite of what the experts say, I look forward to 2009 with a sense of promise and hope, that we will once again experience the faithfulness of God in this place. And in response, may we faithfully serve him with all that we have and all that we are, like those who have come before us.

For the gift of serving in this place, and the blessings of serving alongside such gracious and gifted people, I am deeply grateful to God.

And for the blessing of my wife and family, who are the daily proof to me of God’s grace, I humbly praise God from whom all blessing flow.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!