By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.� Psalm 42:5-6
These are tough economic times and few have not been touched by the current recession. Many have seen their savings and retirement income dwindle. Most have seen the equity in their home decrease to the point where they own more on their mortgage than the current value of their home. Foreclosures are at an all time high (2.3 million American homes last year). More than two million people have lost their jobs and the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in thirty four years.
With diminished income and savings people are cutting back on their expenditures and the spiral down effect puts even more people out of work. Strangely though, there is one industry that appears to be thriving and growing in that many states lottery sales are rising in this recession.
According to a recent press article, it seems that in these tough times, many people appear willing to gamble a few precious dollars in the hope of winning instant deliverance from their economic woes. More than half of all states with lotteries have reported rising sales over the past six months, and some researchers say financial insecurity might be driving people to risk more of their money than usual on $1 and $5 instant scratch-offs and other daily games in hopes of a big payoff.
As unemployment and home foreclosures mount, psychologists are seeing a rise in stress, anxiety and depression. The emotional fallout has led to a rash of “crimes of desperation” … bank robberies… arson… insurance fraud – and in some cases – murder or suicide.
It is interesting to see where the world’s people turn when faced with adversity…….gambling money they can’t afford to lose in system where the odds of winning are remote……. appropriating property that doesn’t belong to them…… consuming alcohol and drugs to drown their sorrows.
God’s Holy Word is clear on where we should turn, when our soul is downcast and times get tough. Psalm 42 has the simple prescription: Put your hope in God, not in power, possessions, positions and chances. Put your hope in God.
(a thought on life from John Grant )
You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/01/26/jg_take-a-chance/