Every day we hear voices. “Come here”, “go there”, “do this”, “try this”, “taste this”, “look at this”, “buy this”. We also have the silent voices, “This will not hurt you or anyone else”, “it’s not really a sin”, “it will be fun”, “one time won’t hurt”. Radio and TV advertisements, billboards, newspapers, magazines, the internet: we are bombarded with voices.
Sometimes the voices are telling us about things that are not bad, that may actually be good for us. There are other voices that encourage us to sin, to lead us into temptations. We also have the silent voice, the voice of satan, the voice that may discourage us, that may bring fear to our hearts, the voice that always lies to us.
Today, we live in an especially trying time in our nation. We have the government and medical professionals giving advice, “Do this, don’t do that”, given the circumstances good wisdom and direction. The media is overwhelming us with statistics and projections, information that perhaps is sometimes confusing and many times giving us cause to be fearful. For good or bad we are surrounded by the voices of the world.
These voices can overwhelm us, confuse us, distract us. In our daily activities, amidst all the noise and confusion of these voices from the world, we need to keep one thought foremost in our minds. Do not allow the voices of the world to drown out the one voice that we always need to be able to hear. The voice of God. Psalms 46:10 “…be still and know that I am God.”
Many times we get so distracted by the voices of the world, the desires of our hearts, the emotions that many times rule our lives that we do not stop and listen. We need to listen to that one voice that can bring direction, bring comfort, bring a sense of order to our lives.
None of us have a clear vision of the future. At times this can bring anxiety and perhaps cause fears. At all times in our lives, especially at this time, we need to maintain our faith and trust. Trust that God is in control. Trust that He knows His people. Trust that He cares for His people.
We are affected by the world, for good or bad. Sometimes we must live through difficult situations. There are no guarantees that we are immune to the events that surround us. We do, however, have a guarantee that God is with us, calling us, encouraging us, comforting us. We should use this time to develop a walk that is closer to God, to develop the relationship with Him that He wants us to have.
This is not a time to be fearful. This is a time to trust, a time to rely on His promise to be with us in our trials.
1 Corinthians10:13 There hath no temptation (trial or difficulty-Ken Oar) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
God has not promised to necessarily take us out of our trials, but has promised to make a way to escape, a way to bear all the trials we face.
John 14:23-27 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The words of Christ to His disciples, but ring true to all of us today. If we love Him, we will keep His words, keep His commandments (verse 15). If we do this the promise is He will be with us by the gift and power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. “Let not your heart be trouble, neither let it be afraid.”
Listen to the one voice that is always the same that is always true.
Be still, and know that I am God:
Elder Ken Oar
