HOLY SOVEREIGN GRACE: Part 1

The Pathway Toward Healing

We live in a very complicated world at this time. It seems like nearly every day, in addition to our own personal challenges of: health, family issues, financial issues, etc., we are now experiencing the constant threat of wars & ongoing conflicts around the world. Daily, we hear on the news that many of the things we value & that clearly offer quality of life & equal opportunities for all of God’s people such as the DEI, are being eliminated & it feels like we are powerless to stop these challenges & destructive changes. It is difficult to feel hopeful about the future & to some extent, easy to doubt our faith when things we value are continually being destroyed, isn’t it? When people feel afraid & struggle to feel hopeful, there is no doubt that it interferes with their health: mind, body, & Spirit. I think & feel that there must be some way to turn things around, to heal the conflicts & divisions for I do not believe the way things are unfolding now is God’s Will for His creation. Do you know what I mean?

I want to share with all of you, parts of two songs that speak strongly about this topic of how we can move forward through these complicated days as we wrestle between our faith, fear & doubt. The words in the first song: “Is He Worthy” (speaking of God our Creator), speak strongly to me about this topic. The song begins by asking that same questions: “Do you feel the world is broken? Do you feel the shadows deepen? But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through? Do you wish that you could see it all made new? Is all creation groaning? Is a new creation coming? Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? Is it good that we remind ourselves of this?” Of course, it is good that we remind ourselves of God & His Holy Sovereign Grace, for God is the great Healer. We are continually reminded of His Grace & mercy & healing through prayer with our Living Lord.

The second hymn entitled: “Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul”, speaks strongly of the healing grace of God as well. It is written verse by verse as a conversation between one whose soul is weary & our Holy Sovereign God of Grace. It unfolds the pathway toward healing & offers the answer to the question of what is the way this destruction, pain & loss can be turned around. It brings hope to those who listen: “Dear refuge of my weary soul, on Thee, when sorrows rise. On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, My fainting hope relies. To Thee I tell each rising grief, for Thou alone can heal. Thy Word can bring a sweet relief for every pain I feel. But oh, when gloomy doubts prevail, I fear to call Thee mine. The springs of comfort seem to fail, & all my hopes decline. Yet, gracious God where shall I flee? Thou art my only trust; And still my soul would cleave to Thee, though prostrate, in the dust. Hath Thou not bid me seek Thy face, & shall I seek in vain? And can the ear of Sovereign Grace Be deaf when I complain? No, still the ear of Sovereign Grace, attends the mourner’s prayer; O may I ever find access to breathe my sorrows there. Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat. With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet.” AMEN

~Posted by Rev Kathryn Bindig, MDiv. MS; Pastoral Care Minister with assistance from Rich Muscatello; Director of Business Development & Strategy