Have you ever seen one of those tall, wavy, blow up wind dancers? You know, the ones you see at used car lots? They go up and down, side to side, going wherever the wind leads them. That’s what I’ve been feeling like lately. And honestly, it’s sort of what the world feels like right now. One day, masks are the cure for all of our problems, the next day, they do nothing. One day the heat will kill the virus, the next day, the heat will kill us all (just kidding, that last part is just because I live in Houston). On Monday, the safest place for kids is school, but on Tuesday, all of the sudden it’s dangerous and irresponsible decision.
It feels like information, schedules, timelines, expectations, plans, all of the things I normally find comfort in are changing on a daily, hourly basis. I don’t know what to believe anymore and I even start second guessing things I know to be true. And that brings me right back to feeling like that wind dancer—up and down, moving with the slightest breeze, no foundation.
But here’s the thing, as Christians, that’s not who we are. We’re not people brought down by confusion or swayed by culture. 2 Chronicles 20 is a cool chapter, it’s in the middle of a history lesson on Judah’s kings, and chapter 20 is often labeled “Jehoshaphat’s Prayer.” Jehoshaphat wasn’t perfect, but he did seek to follow God’s commands, honor Him, and encourage the people of Judah to do the same. This prayer in chapter 20 is one that he gives upon being told that enemy armies are not only approaching, but are 50 miles out from his nation. In his prayer, he remembers who God has been, he remembers God’s character, he cries out to God for help, but my favorite sentence is at the very end. 2 Chronicles 20:12 says “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” How many of us feel that today? I can promise you, I certainly feel that first part. I can’t even pretend to know what to do anymore!
That second part comes a little bit harder for me. It’s so interesting to me that I have the entire Bible, a book I know to be true, solid, reliable and time-tested, at my fingertips. Yet, it is so much easier for me to slip into this state of confusion and insanity and doubt, than it is for me to turn to the Bible and choose to believe God’s everlasting character. I can easily cry out “I don’t know what to do!” over and over and over again, but fixing my eyes on God does not come as naturally.
I was flipping through some old journals last night and I hit this one section that held a lot of pain and confusion, and to be honest, I was flipping through those pages pretty quickly. The words still felt fresh. But as I moving through the pages, I came across a few pages that looked different from the rest. It was a list of characteristics of God and the verse references that showed them to be true. In the midst of sadness and doubt, someone had challenged me to make a list of what I knew to be true of God. Because, regardless of my feelings, God’s character remains unshaken. There were words like unchanging (Malachi 3:6), all-powerful (Psalm 33:6), all-knowing (Isaiah 46:9-10), and present (Psalm 139:7-10).
In a time where everything seems confusing and unknown, I want to pass on that same challenge to you. What characteristic of God do you need to keep your eyes on? What trait do you need to cling to today? Remember Jehoshaphat’s prayer: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
