Placing Our Trust
Posted on: March 6, 2014
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Prayer
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If God is for us, who is against us?
~ Romans 8:31b
Sometimes I just don’t want to watch the TV news. Or open a newspaper. Or listen to the news on the radio.
Whether it’s the latest on Senate spending, Quebec’s proposed legislation on assisted suicide, persecution of Christians in South Sudan, or Russian intervention in Ukraine, there’s not much media coverage to lift our spirits—and plenty to make us feel anxious and less than hopeful about the future.
At times I understand the perspective of Psalm 53:2-3:
God looks down from heaven
upon the sons of men
to see if there are any that are wise,
that seek after God.
They have all fallen away;
they are all alike depraved;
there is none that does good,
no, not one.
We know that many people work to improve our world through their words and actions each day, as well as through the work of charitable and non-governmental organizations. Many strive to feed the hungry, find shelter for those who lack proper housing, develop treatments for diseases, and clean up our environment. But we can struggle to remember this when breaking news of corruption, tragedies and disasters bombards us.
Of course, we could avoid all the news outlets, or at least take in less news, but we shouldn’t be ignorant of current events even if they’re distressing. We’d be in no position to help by donating time, money or items or by praying for change, comfort or hope for the people affected.
We need to remind ourselves where we should place our trust:
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust without a fear.
What can flesh do to me?
This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust without a fear.
What can man do to me?
~Psalm 56:3-4, 9b-11
I pray that, rather than tune out difficult news or let it overwhelm us, we would place our trust in God and his plans and open our hearts to his guidance on how to respond.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~ Psalm 62:8
(*Scripture quotes taken from the Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.)
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 