When crisis comes, God waits to offer the help only he can give
By Dean Collins
At some point in life and probably more than once we all experience a crisis. The definition of crisis includes “intense difficulty.” The source of difficulty, as well as its duration, may vary. More than likely, both of us will experience more than one crisis during our season of life on earth.
On any given day someone is in crisis. It might be health, financial, psychological, existential, or relational. The possibilities for the source of the crisis vary. But when crisis comes, there is a sense of instability. We long for something or someone to cling to who can help us navigate our course or make a critical decision. But what we all eventually come to realize is that while friends and family can support, we will come to the moment when we alone must make the decision. And in that moment we feel alone.
If you are a leader of anything you soon come to realize that it is quite lonely at the top. There may be hundreds of people in your organization, and you likely have advisors, colleagues, and friends who offer their advice; but even with a team of people helping, sooner or later you realize the pressure of leadership. This is especially true in a crisis.
Clear perspective, necessary wait
Psalm 62 offers important wisdom. It begins with a clear perspective: We must address our crises by waiting silently. The first sentence from the psalmist says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence.” You have probably noticed this approach runs contrary to the urgency we feel in a crisis. If you have a crisis, then you obviously need some sort of intervention or answer. The nature of the crisis begs for a decision. The next step appears critical.
And when and how do we find silence in our noisy world? Our technology screams at us. Social media almost never brings quietness. I suspect that most psalms were inspired and written away from the crowds and probably outside. Getting alone anywhere in God’s magnificent creation can bring perspective and even peace. And it is in the quietness of these moments that we can let all pretense fall away and sit alone in silence with our Creator. One important aspect of Psalm 62 is the discovery that it is God alone who can help us. And he longs to do so.
God alone, the nourishment we need
Facing God alone is not punishment. It is nourishment. Some may have memories or scars from “You just wait until your father comes home” or because we were sent to the principal’s office to face the music. If that is true, there may be a sense of shame or resistance to meeting God alone. Your crisis may bring a strong sense that you are to blame for whatever the crisis is that needs attention, but I suspect most of the time the crisis is bigger and broader than you could have created alone. It may feel like the world is on your shoulders, but in reality, the world still sits on the shoulders of Almighty God. And this is very good news.
Six times the psalmist declares that God alone can help. And what God has to offer is significant: salvation, stability, refuge, power, hope, and love. In a crisis any one of these six gifts would be helpful, and with God we can experience all of them.
The prerequisite to finding the path forward, as urgent as it may be, is choosing to wait. Wait alone with God, and experience him in silence. God is waiting for us to sit, to stop, to listen, and to receive the fullness of his presence and all of his promises.
You were on my mind this morning as I wrote these thoughts. Thinking of you helped me think less of myself and my struggles. Choosing to focus on others helps us realize the character and love of God. But now we both need something vital as we begin or end this day. We must go to God in silence. He is waiting. He is present. He has the gifts we need to face this day and anything pressing on us.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 62:1-12 ESV
Photo by KTMD ENTERTAINMENT on Unsplash
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