Abiding in God and God Abiding in You

 

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Okay, I understand that this is not the most uplift verse.  You might be thinking, “Gee, thanks, Pastor Eeyore for highlighting this verse.”  You might even click over to YouTube to see if there is a funny cat video that would lift your spirits.  I get it.  Yet, I am taken by the fact that in a time when change is constant, when pain throbs, we can turn to One who is constantly seeking a loving and prayerful connection with us.  This is part of the invitation to abide in God and God to abide in us.  Other voices continually call us to abide in them.  Advertisement does this contending that if we buy their product, happiness will follow.  Political parties do this, if we vote for their candidate all will be well.  The church does this too by offering program after program.  There are many voices that clamor for your allegiance (and often your donations) promising you a sense of peace and belonging.  No wonder we struggle to hear God’s still speaking voice!

Yet, this isn’t to say your only option is to sell everything to go live off the grid somewhere.  It is more about being awake and aware to where your soul is residing.  You can do this by gently, thoughtfully, lovingly asking yourself, “why”?  Why are you buying that certain item?  Why are you posting that article or feeling anger when someone said something to you?  Is what you are doing or saying helping you abide in God and God abide in you?  I realize that continually asking these questions will cause us to slow down, because they are not quickly answered.

Life is constantly changing.  We are living in a time of pivoting and the ground beneath us is shifting.  We long to cling to a presence that has provided help for the helpless for centuries.  We long to find our home in the Holy. 

Prayer: God meet me where I am, shelter me from the storms of today, and surround me with a sacred sense that Your abiding and amazing grace will guide me.  Amen.