Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Tumult

Tumult....a very old fashioned word, yet incredibly appropriate for today's world!  By its very definition it describes what is going on in America today.  A din and commotion of a great crowd.  Have you seen agitation of the mind or emotions on the news since COVID came on the radar? How about since the Presidential Election in 2016?  Resist.  From day one, people have been resisting the election of a President of the United States of America.  Tumultuous? Absolutely! And, what of a president who Tweets?  Goodness gracious! 2020 is a MESS!!!

Then, came George, Brianna and Ahmaad's deaths.  UGH!  Black Lives Matter - YES, they do and all lives matter!  To me, it starts with each of us to overcome this ugly treatment of human beings on a daily basis with every encounter of another human being - no matter what color their skin is!!!

Riots. Forest fires in CA, Hurricanes, Famines, Water shortages around the globe, etc., etc., etc.

This is not a political platform or an argument that I am proposing to solve....but these issues are bringing our values, thought processes and ideologies to the forefront of our hearts and minds to contemplate seriously.  What in going on in our heads?  Our hearts?  Our world?

Another definition of tumult is noisy commotion, confusion or disturbance.

Think about that!  Noisy commotion, racket, rumpus, clamor, disorder, riot, turmoil, unruliness, chaos, anarchy, pandemonium.....sound familiar?

Now look at the Old Testament in the Bible:  Psalm 65:4-7 says:  "How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to YOU to dwell in Your courts.  We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your Holy Temple.  By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation.  You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea; Who establishes the mountains by His strength, being girded with might; Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the people." (NASB)

Wow!!! Isn't that amazing to find TUMULT in the Bible of all places??? Chaos is not something new.  It is not a surprise to God.  He thrives on helping us through the confusion, the unruliness, the disturbance.  THRIVES.

He still calms the roaring waters..

He still quiets the roaring waves.

He still quenches the roaring seas!!!

He KNOWS where all this discord comes from and where it is going.....He knows how unsettled our hearts are.  He knows we are confused and aching.  He knows how this will all resolve.

We have been given the answer, but are we asking the question?  Are we listening to the wisdom handed down through the ages or are we choosing to "go our own way?"

"You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and the farthest sea..."

Did you catch that?  There is only ONE who is the trust of all the ends of the earth.  Do you know Him?  Do you see Him?  Have you asked Him into your heart?

What side of the roaring sea do you want to be on?  Would you prefer to be tossed about to and fro, OR would you like to know the calmness, the quietness, and the absolute quenching of all the unrest that comes with being blessed by drawing close to His courts? His house? His Holy Temple? His Presence?

You choose.  He won't force you to come to the living waters.  He is waiting for you to choose what side of the sea you would like to be on.  Or, if you would rather be in the middle of the turmoil and never see land again.  You choose.  Between chaos and calm.  Between living in abundant joy or constant angst.

You choose.  He already chose you by sending His Son.  Now it is your turn.  You choose.