Followby Brian Waple
This past Sunday, Martin spoke on a section from the Gospel of Mark, specifically, the Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed. In Mark 4, verses 5–6, we read, “Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died” (Mark 4:5-6, NLT). Later, when the disciples were asking Jesus to explain the meaning of the parable, Jesus replied, “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word” (Mark 4:16-17).
Problems . . . suffering . . . sorrows . . . troubles. We all go through these seasons. We cry out, “God, where are You in this?” And, God is silent. As a church, we have gone through these seasons. Personally, I have gone through these seasons. “God, please show us what You are doing here. Where are You working? How are we being used in this situation?” And, God is silent. The biggest sorrow is that we start to doubt our hope and lose our joy. We understand that this journey can be a challenge . . . that we must endure the race . . . that we’re being tested and purified through difficulty. We understand all of that. But when the pain we experience causes us to lose sight of the hope and joy that comes from faithfully putting our complete trust in God, when we sense that the impenetrable underlying rock is keeping our roots from getting through, we begin to let the seeds of faith die, little by little. I used to believe that these problems were just things that happened to us. I now understand that these troubles are anything that takes our eyes off God and His promises to us.
I have recently become familiar with Psalm 62, which has given me the assurance that I need to be hopeful in the face of trouble:
I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
So many enemies against one man—
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
They plan to topple me from my high position.
They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
but curse me in their hearts.
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:1–8)
It may seem at times that God is silent; that the trouble we experience in this world and the pain it causes are threatening to kill our hope and joy. But take heart—He continues to work on our behalf, because He loves us. Knowing that and living the assurances found in Psalm 62 will give us the refuge we so desperately seek during these seasons of trouble.
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