Psalm Meditation 1334 ¶Baptism of the Lord ¶January 11, 2026 ¶Psalm 60 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2055&version=NRSVUE ¶Many of us assume that God is one who controls everything, causes our calamities and comforts, leaving us with little to do but go on as if we have a say in our lives. My theology professor asked us as class began, ‘How do you parents know when you have lost control of your children?’ No one answered since we had never lost control of our children. (Yeah, right) He answered his question with, ‘You have lost control when you have to reach out to restrain your child. God does not lose control.’ ¶If we bring ourselves to calamity, as in this psalm, God stands with us to support us as we recover from our ill fitting choices. We can say that God caused something to happen, which makes God an adversary, or we can recognize that we have made a foolish choice or two that put us where we are. In the latter case God’s presence is a source of comfort and strength to help us navigate the effects of our choices and get things back to a new normal. In the best of all worlds, that new normal includes a closer relationship with God. ¶There is some comfort in believing that everything that happens for good or ill is directly caused by God. We are not finally responsible for anything that goes on around us. I would rather see God as one who chooses to be present with us, sending us people who will teach us and lead us in ways that lead to a closer relationship with God. The presence of God acts as a comfort and blessing to us in every time and place rather than as a source of foreboding as we await the next punishment for our sin. ¶January 5, 2026 ¶LCM