Sermon delivered by David Burrow August 24, 2025 - First Congregational Church, Algona, Iowa
Click here for an audio version of this sermon (11 MB - .mp3)
In you, Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue and deliver me;
listen to me and save me!
Be my rock of refuge,
my stronghold to give me safety;
for you are my rock and fortress.
My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked,
from the clutches of the evil and violent.
You are my hope, Lord;
my trust, GOD, from my youth.
On you I have depended since birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength;
my hope in you never wavers.
I have become a marvel to many,
for you are my strong refuge!
My mouth shall be filled with your praise,
And shall sing your glory every day.
Jesus said to [his] disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do
not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you
will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.
Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor
barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds!
Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your life-span? If even the smallest
things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest?
Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the
oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do
not worry anymore.
All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your Father knows that
you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given
you besides.
Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give
you the kingdom.
This year has not been an easy time for most of us. It's been a chaotic and sad time throughout our world. Prices for everything are skyrocketing, and both businesses and politicians seem to care only about their own greed. Each day we hear news of people’s rights being trampled upon. We see our own country being known for hate and discrimination rather than freedom and opportunity.
Abroad we hear of war and genocide, famine and starvation, natural disasters of every sort. Both at home and throughout the world people seem more divided than ever, and it seems like every day there’s more bad news than good.
It’s been a tough time here in our own local church, too. After this month our congregation will not be meeting in the same way again, and the change is surprisingly similar to losing a close friend or family member. We’re basically going through a time of mourning—whether we want to call it that or not. We’re grieving the loss of the church many of us have known for most of our lives, and we’re not sure just what the future will bring.
It's easy to let our fears and worries get the best of us. It’s easy to get caught up in all the problems around us and see ourselves as powerless to do anything about them. Sometimes people even get so preoccupied that they start questioning their faith and become separated from God.
Our readings today remind us that even when things seem overwhelming, God is still there. God is our “rock of refuge”, who rescues and delivers us. Jesus tells us not to worry about the matters of everyday life, but to “seek the kingdom”, and God will take care of the rest.
It’s not just those readings, either. There are numerous other places in the Bible we find a similar theme.
Throughout the Bible we are directed to cast our fears and worries on God and take comfort from our faith.
Mind you, it’s not just a passive thing. The readings aren’t just telling us to sit back and let God provide for everything. We’re told not to worry, but that doesn’t mean not to care.
Today’s psalm tells us that God is our hope, our trust, and our refuge. We need to have the faith to believe that. When we let go of our worries and let God direct us, we can take control of the situations where we find ourselves and work to overcome our problems.
Many people in our church use the daily meditations from Our Daily Bread. I get those e-mailed to me each day, and it intrigued me when I saw that today’s feature fit right in with the message today It was entitled “God Is Everywhere”, and it talked about recognizing the signs of God in the most ordinary places. That’s something we all need to be reminded of, particularly at times when we’re feeling down or overwhelmed.
For our hymns at today’s service I chose some old standbys, which date back to our grandparents’ time. They remind us that we’re not the first ones who faced difficult times, and we certainly won’t be the last. Our ancestors knew they could count on God when things got tough, and they showed that when they wrote hymns like “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “It Is Well with My Soul”.
The same faith that those old hymns portray is found in more modern songs as well. One that comes to mind is a song my students at Garrigan sing every year to end our pops concert: “He Never Failed Me Yet”.
Many times in my life I can hear an imaginary jukebox in my head playing through songs that fit the situation I’m in. I know the next time I’m facing a struggle I’ll be thinking of some of those songs of faith, and I hope some of you will too. They’re a nice reminder to get beyond our fears and worries and let God take control of our lives.
God was the refuge for the Israelites, he was the refuge for our ancestors, and he continues to be our refuge today—individually, as a church, and as a world. Remember to follow the words of Jesus: Don’t worry, but instead seek the kingdom; and God will provide the rest.
(C) 2025 davidmburrow@yahoo.com