There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is his refuge.
According to the CDC, suicide rates increased 37% from 2000-2018, then after a light dip just before the pandemic, have returned to 2018 levels. I am sure psychologists and others have explanations but David’s words in Psalm 14 provide the answer. More and more people are in great terror because they are alone. In their minds, there is no God so they do not seek him. Instead, people are seeking solace in pleasure, drugs and alcohol, and money. This is what is called a Fool’s Errand, an endeavor that is doomed to fail and cause much anguish for hurting people and those close to them. They are running from the world while stuck in it. No wonder there is an increase in this devastating statistic. They have no hope, or at least, don’t know there is hope.
You may have been in this position in your life so you know how desperate the situation is. What a blessing to know that the Lord is our refuge. As we see the news and hear stories of the brokenness around us, we take comfort in the fact that life is not a struggle between rich and poor but between running from God to running to him. God is with us. Immanuel. Jesus came to give us hope and we have that hope. Share it with someone who is running headlong into the abyss and show them refuge.
Dear Lord, thank you for not abandoning us to Sheol and you are our refuge. We pray for those who cannot find you because they are not seeking you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church