I Believe in Being Ready

 

Scripture

Proverbs 21:31

³¹ Do your best, prepare for the worst—
    then trust God to bring victory.  (The Message)

Devotion

 I've spent a portion of the last 24 hours chatting with Kentucky friends who are bracing for an ice storm scheduled to hit on Thursday.  Our conversations inevitably start with a joke about whether they made it to the store to get milk, bread, and eggs (which you evidently need to in great quantities in order survive any winter weather event).  Then, talk turns in more serious directions: 

Folks are getting their devices fully charged, filling water jugs, and putting together shelf stable meals in anticipation of losing electric.  Churches and community organizations are pulling out their emergency phone trees in anticipation of networking with folks to help different vulnerable populations.  One pastor sent his wife to go stay with his parents (who have gas heat) while he stays behind to take care of his congregation.  Everyone is doing their best to prepare, bracing for the worst, and praying that God will deliver them from the dangers that the incoming ice and snow will bring.

Proverbs teaches us to plan for the worst while still trusting that God will grant us victory over the things that assail us.  The original Hebrew provides readers with the image of preparing horses for battle while remembering that God is the one who will deliver us from our enemies.  In modern contexts, we could talk about battening down for an ice storm while trusting God to both mitigate damage and get us the assistance we need when the storm clears.

These images remind us that having faith in God doesn't mean that bad things will never happen or that danger will never draw near.  Such things are a natural part of life.  The Good News in Proverbs is that as we prepare for the battle ahead, God will be there to get us through it.  God will deliver us!  And though we may emerge on the other side a little worse for the wear, God will delver us. 

Proverbs 21:31's advice reminds me a lot of what we have been though since the pandemic began.  Folks in all kind of vocations are constantly making and adapting plans for what worst-case scenarios like mass exposure events, supply and staffing shortages, overwhelmed healthcare facilities, etc.   At the same time, we keep hoping for special days to occur without a hitch.  For our plans and wishes and dreams to come to fruition.  For tests to come back negative.  For God to triumph over COVID and life to go back to normal.. though what normal means is a question up for debate.  

For some, living in such a constant state of flux and anxiety has challenged their faith that God is good and cares for them...or that God even exists at all.  On the other side of the spectrum, there are people who shout "faith over fear" out of a misguided belief that believing in God means that we shouldn't take reasonable precautions to keep ourselves and others safe.  The Truth is something in between.  Yes, we are to do our best and prepare for the worst; and as we do so, we are to trust that God will eventually deliver us from danger.  If we just have enough faith to commit to doing our part, then God will do the rest.   

"I Believe in Being Ready" is an old Appalachian song that is technically about being prepared for the End Times.  As sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith from the music group Rising Appalachia explain, it is also a song that speaks to overcoming hardships and moving forward through disasters.   When believe in doing what we can to be ready, for the time of God's deliverance will come.  Even now, it is drawing near. 

Prayer

Holy Spirit, move in my life and help me do my best and prepare for the worst even as I trust in God's promise to bring victory.  And may the time of our deliverance come soon.  Amen.