We took a short trip this week to visit friends in Bend, Oregon. During our visit, we walked along the Deschutes River that runs through the town. There is a walking path right along the river. We often walk near the Columbia River that is close to our home.The largest in the Pacific NW, it divides our state with neighboring Oregon. It is wide and deep. If you watch, you can see the slow, steady current  as it moves along toward the Pacific Ocean. Barges and large ships move along this river so it was a change to walk along the rolling, bubbling Descutes River–one of the main tributaries that empties into the Columbia. The current is obvious as it bubbles and twists through the rocks and timber along the way,  moving steadily to its end in the mighty Columbia.

This morning, I opened my Bible to the Psalms. A good place to go anytime, but especially when things are in a turmoil like our world is right now. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, in the United States, in your own home state and city. Everyone is talking about the Corona Virus. The pandemic. The horrible virus that has interrupted everything, everywhere. It was comforting to turn to Psalm 27:5 where it says:

Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him and he will do this.

I’m using a Bible app that shows what certain words say in Hebrew or Greek which the Bible was originally written in. I took the verbs and examined what they said in the original:

Commit: In Hebrew it is translated “roll over”

Trust: be confident, be bold

I’ve learned when I see the word “LORD” to perk up and pay attention. Notice it is in all caps.

LORD: self existent or eternal.

Wow. Take that verse apart and it is rich. It says to “Roll over” your way or path to the “self existent, eternal God”,  to be “confident and bold” and he will do it. 

You may be very stressed by our situation in the world. You may have lost your job, or a family member has. Your business has dropped off and you’re not sure you’ll pay the bills. You may be ill or a family member is. You may be grieving from a loss–either during this pandemic or before. You may fear the future for it seems very uncertain.

I suggest you do as I did this morning. To roll over and confidently give those concerns to the self existent, eternal God. He knows. He isn’t surprised by this pandemic and all of the troubles this “monster” has created. You really can roll over your fears, grief, and uncertainties. 

Just as the rolling Deschutes River flows along, bouncing over the rocks and trees in its way into the mighty Columbia, we can roll our needs, problems, grief to the self existent One. Leave it with him. He knows. He cares. And he will answer.