[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 27/Oct/2024]
Do you worry about the state of the world? Growing up in the early 1970s, I was consumed with anxiety about all the things that were happening, like wars in the Middle East, terrorist bombs going off at home, Russian aggression in Europe, wars and famines in Africa, corruption in US politics and a dire economic situation in the UK. Does any of this sound familiar?
Fifty years later I still worry over the state of the world and long for God to intervene and put an end to all the suffering. When I see the enormous harm caused by just a few evil men I want to echo the prayer of the Psalmist: “If only you would slay the wicked, O God” (Psalm 139 v 19). It was hard for me to watch Mugabe stay in power in Zimbabwe into his 90s and do so much damage to his country when my own father, who was born the same year and was a good and generous man, died 30 years earlier.
The Psalms and books like Job and Habakkuk show that I am not alone in questioning God, but looking to Jesus gives me my answer. He was passionate about justice and cared deeply about the suffering of those around Him, yet He never raged against God for allowing it because He knew that God had a plan to make everything right and that He was a vital part of it.
The great news is that we too are part of that plan, each with a unique role to play. When I worry about all that is wrong in the world I need to remember that God has an army of ordinary people like us who can help in small ways like prayer, giving to charities and showing God’s love to those around us. My job is to do what he has called me to do and trust that he will take care of the rest.
One Psalm I find particularly helpful when tempted to worry or question God is this:
My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself. I am like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child I am content.
Psalm 131 v1-2 [NIVUK]
Resources:
[1]
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church onlineHBC main site
Confidential prayer link
Link to Recent Reflections
.
Link to Index of Bible Passages
Last Sunday’s reflection: I No Longer Believe in God by Michael Goble
Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © Helen Ruffhead