Seeking God's Presence, Holding Him in Awe

It is a very difficult time for our family right now as we watch a very close family member suffer with cancer. For me and my wife, we have had to dig deep to find how our faith sustains us in times like these. Earlier this week, I read this from D. A. Carson:

As an athlete endures in order to build up endurance, so a Christian perseveres under trial in order to build up perseverance. Perseverance contributes something important to our character. It “must finish its work so that {we} may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). The alternative is a personality that may love the Lord when things are going well, a character that is bold and happy on bright days in the Spring, but knows little of steadfastness under duress, of contentment when physical comforts are withdrawn, of quiet confidence in the living God when faced with persecution, of stability in the midst of a frenetic pace or a assive disappointment. In other words, in a fallen world perseverance contributes maturity and stability to our character — and trials build perseverance.

We certainly want to know that "quiet confidence in the living God." It seems like that only comes through trials.

Today my reading was in 1 Chronicles 16. I was moved by these words from David's song of thanks (on the day before Thanksgiving):

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! (verse 11)

We know something of what it means to seek his presence continually. Another:

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. (verses 25-26)

Keeping our attention and awe on the LORD is the only way to think straight in times like these.