Superhero Faith
Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 117-118
Key verses: Psalm 118:6-7
It sounds like something from the pages of a comic book:
“What can mere mortals do to me?”
But actually, it’s from the pages of Scripture.
The Psalmist writes,
“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.”
Is it just bravado? Is it just “whistling in the dark” – pretending not to be afraid – or at least not showing how afraid you really are? Is it “keeping your guard up” and watching your back?
I don’t think so. I think it’s genuine, heartfelt, confident faith. And it’s the stuff of which heroes are made.
It’s not that we never fear – far from it. It’s not that our egos are out of balance; that we have some ego-centric “delusions of grandeur” – and so we don’t fear those who would do us harm.
No, people of faith are realistic in their assessment of just how dangerous the physical, and spiritual, world can be.
But armed with the knowledge of God’s incomparable power and amazing grace – well, it simply helps them keep things in perspective. And that means they are confident – not in their own abilities – but in God’s.
So – “fear not” as the Scripture so often says.
When it comes to being able to literally face the “forces of darkness” in all their forms you’re a superhero – right?
You are – if you are armed with faith.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for watching over me with such power – and such grace. AMEN.
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By Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
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