I'M LEANING ON HIS HARMS

I’M LEANING ON HIS ARMS

I am sitting here thinking over the events of this day with it’s not so good news, with its fear of returning cancer. And there are tests and more tests to determine what the future may hold for me. But I know, in spite of my earlier tears and fears where I stand with Jesus. He is the only One who can bring peace in a troubled heart.

And I am also thinking of things happening in our world, the earthquakes shaking the Pacific Coast, the terrible storms in the south, wind and waves roaring with the loss of many lives. So where do we turn in the event of a doctor’s bad news or in reading of our shaking world?

The Lord always gives a song and His Word in times like these. Where do you turn when it seems your world is turning upside down, your mountains are shaking, and wind and waves are shaking your ship?

“Music teacher A.J. Showalter of Hartsville, Alabama, finished his classes for the day and returned to his rooming house. There he found letters from two former students. Amazingly they each told a similar story. Both former students had lost their wives, and both wives had died the same day. Showalter began writing letters of sympathy and condolence to the men.

As he began writing, a Scripture verse from Deuteronomy came to his mind, giving the assurance of God’s “everlasting arms” supporting us. Then he wrote a third letter, this one to a hymnwriter in Pennsylvania, Elisha Hoffman. He even suggested the wording of the chorus. When Hoffman responded quickly with three stanzas, Showalter composed the music.

The theme is simply this: with God’s arms beneath us and His love surrounding us, we can find strength in even the most sorrowful situations.” (“Hymns” by Petersen).

LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O, how sweet to talk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear; leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. (Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929)

Oh, what a joy to walk this way with Jesus. Are you walking a path of an unknown future this day? Have you too had a doctor’s report and don’t know what the future may hold. The path will only grow brighter the closer we get to heaven. Just around the corner, or over the next hill will be a glimpse of glory and joys forevermore with our Precious Lord.

What are you dreading today? Are you dreading a future filled with sickness and pain from treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery, or being helpless and dependent on others for your care? Are you looking at the newscasts of earthquakes and predictions of bigger ones coming? We remember the recent ones in Nepal and the loss of many lives. And we see the wind and waves roaring, rain coming down and lives lost in floods and people losing all their possessions and loved ones. When we look at God’s Word and His promises we can look up and praise our God for His peace and those “everlasting arms.” Here is a word for your heart today and mine in Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” Psalm 46: 1-3, 10-11.

Even if the earth is quaking, the waves roaring, He tells us not to fear. If your life seems like it is in the midst of those storms and your mountain is shaking, God says to just “be still.” Just lean into those everlasting arms. And then He says, “He will be exalted in the earth.” Yes, our God is still in control no matter what happens here on this earth, He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and someday the whole world will see His appearing and He will reign forever, Praise the Lord!

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon