Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

By Pam Scott, Washington Conference associate treasurer and risk manager

We put lots of things on our shelves, in our cupboards.

Things that we use but put away when they are not in use. Usually that is a good thing. It keeps our spaces neat and orderly.

But what about God?

Do we try to keep Him neat and orderly too? Do we talk to Him in the morning, maybe at night; say a blessing for our meals? Is He kept on a shelf the rest of the day? In our minds do we imagine it would get messy if He guided every part of our day? God says He will carry our burdens, give us peace, fight our enemies for us, and that sounds good. Right? Take a moment and recognize the things we are trying to handle on our own. Stop and have a conversation with yourself about your own fears, and then take God off the shelf and bring him with you all day long.

Today Fear is coming to lunch

Not for coffee, that’s her time with God

No Fear is coming later

When her mind has set back on the shelf

The knowledge that God is in control.

Fear is having lunch with me today

The old lady with the long white hair

Wearing soft sweatpants and an old t-shirt

She didn’t really want to come

Preferring to stay home by the fireplace

Filling her day with distractions.

But we needed to talk

We needed to look each other in the eye

Needed to talk about health and finances

And the soon reality of retirement

I felt sympathy for how Fear shrank down and shuddered

Be kind to yourself, I said

Take it one step at a time

Don’t forget that you are strong and very loved

And the God you believe in is with you.