March 31, 2003
ANOTHER VIEW:
There is trouble, but there is hope
___By Rusty Walton
___I have been waking up every morning for a good many years. I usually follow a simple plan:
___I get out of bed, walk to the kitchen, push the "on" button on the coffeepot, go outside to get the two newspapers delivered each day, wave at the joggers going by in the dawn's early light (me in my bathrobe and they in their silly running togs), offer a prayer of thanksgiving that I am not a jogger, go back inside, throw away the plastic sleeves that were around the newspapers, look at the headlines, put the smallest newspaper on the bed for Mrs. Preacher, have a cup of coffee with Jesus and write this column, if I have not already done so. Weather permitting, I often write out on the back porch. Otherwise, I am seated behind my desk in my study at home.
Rusty Walton
___Today is different.
___Everything I mentioned in the previous paragraph is in place--the newspapers, the joggers, the coffee, Mrs. Preacher and Jesus. The squirrels are scampering, the bluebirds are darting around the rose bushes and the cardinals are cracking sunflower seeds in the feeder just a few feet away. All should be right with the world. But it isn't.
___There is trouble in my soul. Our country is at war, and I can hardly turn on the television.
___There is trouble in my soul. One of our deacons died last night. A good man who left us much too soon. We shall all miss him very, very much.
___There is trouble in my soul. Many of our church members are bravely dealing with serious illnesses, difficult surgeries, long recuperations or deaths of loved ones.
___There is trouble in my soul. Good people are going through bad times. The pain of suffering is real, and deep, and profound.
___There is trouble in my soul. I desperately want to speak words of timeless wisdom, to have answers, to be supremely pastoral. But often there is only uncomfortable and agonizing silence.
___The words of the psalmist repeat themselves to me:Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you.
Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. ....
But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. ...
Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.
(Psalm 102)
___There is trouble in my soul, but also there is hope. Our suffering is real, but so is our Lord's promise not to leave us comfortless. Jesus cares.
___There is trouble in my soul, but also there is hope. Darkness, death and sorrow come to every home, but Jesus is "the resurrection and the life." God wins.
___There is trouble in my soul, but also there is hope. Wars cease. Soldiers come home. Peace reigns.
___Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 end with the same words: "Why art thou downcast, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: For I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God."
___There is trouble in my soul, but also there is hope. The birds may not be singing in your backyard, but they are singing somewhere. They will sing again for you. And a generation not yet created will praise the Lord.
___Rusty Walton is pastor of First Baptist Church in Conroe
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
