I shall not lack.

 It feels like I've been living in a constant state of fear since March, 11 2020...  life changed for the whole world that day.  Abruptly, we were thrown into a storm, tossed around and then set back down, only to look around and find that life didn't look like it had before.  The only comfort I can find in all of this is that it happened to all of us.  Like 9/11, I remember exactly where I was when I learned the news that Corona had swept into the land and we were all going into a lockdown "to flatten the curve".  Suddenly, everything about our lives that we treasured was put on hold.  We couldn't celebrate holidays with one another, no church, no extended family functions, no movies, no sports or shopping...  

I remember sitting on the couch that day and scrolling through FB with this impending sense of doom.  It felt like the end of the world and honestly the chaos that followed in the wake of this "pandemic" reinforces this constant feeling of doom.  Our country is divided in every single way and it feels like the 6 feet apart only reinforces this idea that we are just too far apart to come back together again.  Debates over politics, vaccines, masks, race, sex and every other topic have stripped us of the ability to look at each other as human beings who have more in common than not.  It seems like bad news is all the news that we hear any more.  

In the middle of all of this chaos my family is trying to navigate some big decisions.  In the summer of 2019 we sold our beautiful home in the perfect suburban neighborhood and said good bye to friends we had grown to love and set out on a new journey.   We bought an RV and moved our family of 7 out into the country.  The plan was to begin immediately to build our new house and begin the next chapter of our lives.  Plans don't always go as expected though. Just about the time we were ready to begin the process, the world came to a stand still and even though we are no longer locked down, it still feels like a very scary time to be making any big decisions.  The future feels very uncertain.  

I am a worrier by nature...  I can look at every opportunity and tell you WHY it's not going to work or what could potentially go wrong.  I'm always looking for the other shoe to drop and waiting for the next calamity with bated breath.  It's honestly hard for me to every truly enjoy anything, because I'm focused on what could go wrong.  So, with this current situation I definitely feel justified to sit around and do nothing and wait for the world to end...  

But, then I remember the greatest news of all for those of us who know Jesus...  My hope is not in the economy or a man in DC, my hope is not in the stock market or in gas prices.  In fact, those are horrible things to put our hope in.  My hope is in the LORD.  

The LORD is my Shepherd...  He leads me to green grass.  Did you know the guy that wrote that was a Shepherd in the desert.  He wasn't thinking of fields covered in lush green foliage.  Sure there were times in the year that there was abundant food, but there were other times that the Shepherd had to search out the small patches here and there or had to feed the sheep himself.  The bible says "The LORD will feed his flock like a shepherd." Isaiah 40:11 

David knew where his provision came from and he trusted that God was always going to take care of him.  In fact David wrote in Psalms 37 "I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread."  

Trust is the opposite of fear.  Fear is the enemy's greatest tactic.  He knows that fear immobilizes his opponent, so he preys on our fears.  Fear paralyzes.  Fear is a LIAR.   

I don't think its a coincidence that the command to "FEAR NOT" is in the bible 365 times.  Even though fear is a very powerful emotion there are ways to overcome our fears.  The Apostle Paul, who was sitting in a Roman prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians, said, "The LORD is NEAR, Don't worry about ANYTHING, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the PEACE that passes understanding, will guard your hearts and MINDS in Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:6-7

Look at that anxiety prescription...  first pray, make your request, thank God for his past provision and the way you know he will work this new thing out AND then the peace comes.  

So, that's what I've been doing with my fear and anxiety about the future...  praying and GOD is faithful to bring me to a place of peace.  Prayer is the way we talk to God...  the bible is the way that GOD talks to us.  The bible says that FAITH comes by hearing.  

Today, when I was reading I was so encouraged by what God was showing me in his word.  God had prepared the way well in advance, to take care of Jacob's family during the famine that was years away.  Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, found himself in the second most powerful position in the land of Egypt.  He had been placed there by God to be able to care for his family when the famine in the land of Canaan became too extreme.  

When Joseph brought his family to Egypt, Pharaoh gave them the best part of the land and "Joseph provided his father, his brothers and all his father's family with food for their dependents" Gen 47:12 God took care of his children during the famine and they actually prospered during this time.  Verse 27 says, "Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen.  They acquired property in it and became fruitful and very numerous."  Pharaoh also put Joseph's brothers in charge of his flocks.  So, in a time that appeared to be disaster, God caused his people to prosper and the crises actually created new opportunities for them.  

Christians, we are called to live by faith and not by sight.  We have the ability to turn our burdens into blessings.  BUT it's up to us.  We are NOT doom and gloomers...  We are the children of the RISEN King.  

Ultimately, the story of Joseph is the story of God's covenant faithfulness to His people.  Joseph was sent to Egypt to "save many people alive".  In a time when the world was experiencing famine God was increasing and prospering His children.  God had a plan to bring forth His SON Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, to bless the whole world and take away our sins.  

So let us set our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  Let us get our eyes off our portfolios and politics and find out what opportunities God has for us in this time.  God has a plan and it's same as it was from before the foundation of the world...  to save many people alive...  so obviously whatever is going on in this time is part of that plan.  With hearts full of TRUST in the LORD, let us use this time as an opportunity to share the HOPE that we have in JESUS.

Because the LORD is our Shepherd...  we shall not lack.