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In the face of this relentless information storm, this is no time for Christians to give up on reading. We need to equip ourselves to weather this information storm, and The Fellowship of Ailbe wants to help.
Hear our cries!
Job 23:8-10 NRSV
If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.
Psalm 22:1-5 NRSV
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
O God my Father, I feel estranged from you.
In the things that torment my soul, I find no answers, just continuing struggle.
With Job, I look all around for a sign of your presence but cannot find you. Like the psalmist, I don’t hear an answer from you to the issues that rob my rest, rest of both body and soul.
What do I do? How do I continue?
By faith, I’ll do what saints of all time have done. I’ll trust in you even if I don’t hear you or see you. They trusted and were not put to shame.
By faith, I’ll hold to the truth that, regardless of what I see, you see me. You are with me and you know where I am going. Whatever the reason for the struggles I am facing, you have a purpose in them all, and that purpose is good.
So, I rest in your sovereign goodness, O Lord.
Amen.
IN THE HOUR OF TRIAL
James Montgomery
In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me,
Lest by base denial I unworthy be.
When you see me waver, with a look recall,
Nor for fear or favor, ever let me fall.
With forbidden pleasures should the vain world charm,
Or its tempting treasures spread to work me harm,
Bring to my remembrance sad Gethsemane,
Or, in darker semblance, cross-crowned Calvary.
Should your mercy send me sorrow, toil, or woe,
Or should pain attend me on my path below,
Grant that I may never fail your cross to view.
Grant that I may ever cast my care on you.
In The Hour of Trial
https://youtu.be/AldtHcfJ7Po?si=AxEeuK7uo3gLTGfM
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
Rusty Rabon has served in vocational Christian ministry in local churches since 1981. He also served as a Christian radio announcer for 15 years. He married his wife Terri in 1978 and they have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. You can find books by Rusty Rabon here.
Rusty also hosts a book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS on his Facebook page. You can follow Rusty at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.
In the face of this relentless information storm, this is no time for Christians to give up on reading. We need to equip ourselves to weather this information storm, and The Fellowship of Ailbe wants to help.