August 2026
“Have I not charged you, ‘Be strong and stalwart’? Do not be terror-stricken and do not cower, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Grace and peace to you all! I sit here in my office, not cowering from the heat, but remaining where I am safe and secure in the sure trust that God is preparing me to do battle with it when it has waned in strength. The spirit is willing, but the flesh sweats.
There are times when I do want to cower from the world, though. Beloved, I am not afraid to say that our current times frighten me. There are times when I want to curl up in a dark room and avoid anything outside for fear of what I might hear or see next. What illness or infestation that had been contained is come upon us? In which new avoidable conflict have we become entangled? What new scandal is uncovered before being ignored?
At other times I want to rage, to feel the fury inside me become uncontained, exploding so the world knows my frustration and displeasure at what has come to pass. Rampant bullying from those who are meant to lead, obvious lying, self-dealing corruption, and claiming the name of Christ in hypocrisy so foul that it makes my stomach turn threaten to turn my righteous anger into a destructive wave that threatens the emotional and spiritual well-being of everyone, especially myself. I have left the room, but I am still reacting to the fear I feel, lashing out in an attempt to protect myself.
But who would that benefit? In what way would either of these responses serve God? Either one destroys my ability to participate in the work of the Body of Christ, the co-creation of God’s realm on earth. Neither one serves God. Neither one serves God’s realm.
The call to us is not to react. Reacting is acting too late. Reacting to the world assumes the world has control and we merely exist to be acted upon. But we are charged to be strong and stalwart, to be courageous in our temperament. We are called to act, and acting requires forethought, planning, more than simple instinct. Acting helps create what we wish to be.
It is natural to feel fear right now. It is natural for that fear to turn to anger. Having courage, being brave, is not acting without fear, but in spite of fear. To be strong and stalwart, we must not be moved by our fear, but by our love and trust in God. We must not be forced to react, but must choose to act. Feel the righteous anger that moves you toward justice and mercy and make the world react to the peace and fellowship we create.
Amen.
Pastor Rob