A monk shared an experience with theologian Karl Barth: 

“One evening, being choirmaster of his monastery, he was chanting the Magnificat with his confrères, when suddenly a French shell crashed through the roof and exploded in the nave of the church. But the smoke thinned away and the Magnifcat continued.”*

Even the violence and chaos of the world could not permanently disrupt God’s people from praising their Maker.

Then or now.

People will be born and die—but God will remain.
Seasons come and go—but God will remain.
Nations will rise and fall—but God will remain.

Some days we just need that reminder.

No matter what happens in our lives, he holds us. And no matter what happens in our world, he continues to rule.

“But the smoke thinned away and the Magnifcat continued.” And what does the Magnificat say? It’s Mary’s song of praise: “My soul glorifies the Lord… for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name“ (Luke 1:46, 49).

It was true for Mary. And it’s true for us.

You can face today, and you can face tomorrow, not because you have it all figured out, but because you are held in the holy hand of the One who does.

—–

—New post: “My kids and wife respond: What have we learned from COVID-19?” Do you want to hear what they had to say? If so, click here. (You’ll also get a sneak peak into the new, yet-to-be-announced “The Pulse Podcast.” [More about that next week.]

–*Karl Barth, The Word of God & The Word of Man, trans. D. Horton (New York: Harper & Row, 1957), 112-113.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.