Psalm 11:3, 4 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.

This Psalm really brings to mind the situation in the US right now. Verse 3 is the last of a quote from someone who is either in a panic themselves or is trying to make a righteous person panic. The NIV says “the foundations” and the Japanese says “the safe places,” but the thought is the same, and that is, the breakdown of society. The US is certainly in the middle of that! It would take all day to list the various evidences that there is a lot wrong with US society today, not to mention the world as a whole. However, a righteous person today should respond as David did: God is still in heaven, and He’s still accessible to those who seek Him. It is interesting to see different people’s responses to what is going on. Some, who either don’t know God at all or are in rebellion against Him, rejoice to see changes they think they want. Others are simply oblivious (and there is overlap in these categories). Some are distressed by what they see going on, to the point of absolute panic, and then there are those who, though not pleased by what they see, still keep their eyes on God and trust Him to carry them safe through the storm.

Like most people, I have been in more than one of these positions over time. It is very easy to get stressed out over all that is going on, especially when the media seem to do all they can to show that those who ignore God are winning. Been there done that! Pulling in like a turtle and trying to ignore it all doesn’t work very well either. I am faced with the active choice to trust God, understanding what He wants me to do personally, in prayer or other action, and leaving the reigns in His hands. That’s not always easy, but it certainly makes faith grow! There are two major kinds of terrorists: those who do direct physical damage, and those who simply go after minds and hearts. However, in either case their goal is to control through fear; that’s why they’re called terrorists. If I succumb to fear, I have let them win. I’ve got to remember that the devil is a liar. Even when he uses objective facts, he is trying to hide the reality that in the end, he is going to lose and God, along with those who are committed to Him, is going to triumph.

Father, thank You for this further reminder this morning. Help me keep my eyes on Christ, whatever my flesh or my intellect might be telling me. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You even in the middle of all the turmoil, so that the devil will be able to steal nothing from me by terrorism, but You alone will be glorified. Thank You. Praise God!