Be Still. Know that God Is…
1God is our refuge and strength,
a help always near in times of great trouble.
2 That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart,
when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea,
3when its waters roar and rage,
when the mountains shake because of its surging waves…
10 “That’s enough! Now know that I am God!
I am exalted among all nations; I am exalted throughout the world!”
11 ADONAI of heavenly forces is with us!
The God of Jacob is our place of safety.
-Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11, Common English Bible
It’s less than a week until election day in the United States, and many of us are vibrating with anxiety. We don’t know when election results will be in, and we don’t know what will come following that. Many have noted an increase in short tempers and assuming cruel intent, a decrease in flexibility and believing the best in others. Just google “election anxiety” and count how many articles offer coping strategies (and then maybe check out some of those strategies).
I had a moment this week when I prayed, “God, why won’t you do something [about this election]?!!” Then I immediately laughed at myself because I don’t believe in that form of “God,” one who will jump into action at human request. Rather, I believe fully in the God of love who is present in our caring actions for one another and all creation:
the God who Is,
YHWH,
I AM WHO I AM/I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE,
the ancient name that God spoke to Moses,
the God who is presence no matter what.
That’s the God I serve and had to remind myself of this week when I so desperately longed for something that could fix all that seems wrong in our world.
The Divine is fully present to us in this time of high anxiety. The Divine is fully present when we are acting in love toward one another and our world. And this is what we need right now, all of us.
Below are two opportunities for you to make space this election day, hopefully helping you get away from watching polls and closer to the Holy, Love, Presence, God. If you’re not able to participate in these, call a friend who will be present with you on the phone—perhaps in prayer, perhaps in silence—but present, as our God is. If you don’t have a friend who’ll do that, call a sibling church member and tell them Pastor Sharon said you could! Reach out and come together. God is with us.
In faith,
Pastor Sharon
