INI   April 1, 2009   Chapel at West Lutheran High School

Bible Text—Psalm 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

During a March 9 interview on the financial news channel, CNBC, the billionaire Warren Buffett said that it was like our U. S. economy “fell off a cliff” last fall. If you think back to last year, the entire presidential election was all about the economy, and it seems like that’s all we’ve been hearing about on the news ever since.

As young people this may be the first recession you have personally experienced—or at least the first one you remember. Some of us recall the recessions in the mid 70’s, or the early 80’s when Ronald Reagan was president. It’s possible that some of your parents or someone close to you has lost their job, or they’ve had their work hours cut back, or their earnings have decreased. Maybe your parents are not as free to give you the weekend spending money they once did. It’s a good possibility you’re going to have a harder time finding a summer job.

This economic slowdown has also affected our churches and schools. Your home congregation may find itself falling deeper into debt, unable to pay all its bills because offerings have decreased. Children may not be enrolling in our WELS and ELS elementary schools for the fall, because parents don’t know how they’ll pay the tuition. Our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is also facing some multi-million dollar shortfalls. The souring economy is also affecting us right here at West Lutheran High School.

Why does God allow these things to happen? He’s a loving God, isn’t he? Jesus told us that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to” him, Matthew 28:18. In Ephesians chapter 1 the Spirit tells us through Paul that Jesus is head over absolutely everything for the benefit of his church—that is, for you and me (Ephesians 1:22). In chapter 8 (28) of Romans the apostle also informs us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” He also tells us that nothing can separate us from “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Rom. 8:39. He writes there, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Rom. 8:31, 32.

So what gives? Is God reneging on his promises? Has he forgotten what he’s told us? Maybe he’s changed his mind?

Two summers ago my family and I vacationed in southern California. When we were taking the Hollywood and Beverly Hills tour, we were driving down Sunset Blvd. Next to us at a stop-sign was a young man in a beautifully restored 1966 Ford Mustang convertible with the top down. I couldn’t tell if he was a movie-star or not, but you could just tell by the look on his face that he thought he was really cool and on top of the world. I’m sure that if someone had cut in front of him and made him slam on his brakes that his demeanor would have changed considerably!

In the same way, when we’re cruising along in our personal and professional lives and every thing seems to be going our way, we tend to take things for granted. We feel we’re on top of the world and that we’re pretty cool ourselves. We can even get a little self-righteous—even as Christians. So God puts a big pothole in our road of life or he brings us to a screeching halt with a recession or some other difficulty to get our attention. Be still, he says, and know that I am God.

God wants to remind us that everything belongs to him. We have our blessings solely because of his grace in Christ Jesus. Everything we have is from him: our family and friends; our classmates and coworkers; our food, clothes and homes; our jobs, our professions and our callings; our churches and our schools. Our Savior also wants us to realize that our thoughts are not his thoughts, and that our ways are not his ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts  (Isaiah 55:8,9).

So with what frame of mind should we approach the problems and difficulties we’re now faced with—as individuals, as families, as a school, as churches and as a synod? I would hope we would have the attitude of Paul, who prayed three times that his thorn in the flesh would be removed. When Jesus responded to Paul by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” (1 Cor. 12:9), the apostle wrote: “I will boast all the more about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me…”

May that also be our attitude when we’re faced with the problems of life—like the recession we now have to deal with in so many different ways, personal ways, difficult ways.  Be still, our Savior says, and know that I am God.  He died on the cross to rescue us from hell. He rose from the dead. His will is always done. His Word will always be proclaimed. Jesus is still the Lord of the Church. He is still very much in control. Be still, and know that I am God.  Amen.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you are the head of your Church. You control everything in this universe for our eternal good. You provide us with everything we need for this body and life. Please be with us and our families, be with our teachers and our schools, be with us here at West Lutheran High School during this tough economic time. May the hardships we experience drive us closer to you and your precious Word. May the difficulties we’re experiencing remind us we are but pilgrims passing through this sinful and self-destructing world, and that our real home is in heaven, which you purchased for us on the cross. May our greatest possession always and only be your forgiveness and salvation. In your name we pray. Amen.

Hymn 429, “What God Ordains Is Always Good”