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Tag: James Cantelon

March 18, 2026

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

During a time of war it’s not unusual for us to be overly pessimistic or optimistic. Sometimes we’re simply negatively or positively trite, as in “all is lost” or “it’ll all work out for the best”. A third alternative is to quote the Bible. For instance:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you shall find refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday… For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91: 1-6; 11-12).

These are proven words quoted and lived by generations over the millennia. It is the word of the Lord and it can be trusted. Indeed, as the old hymn puts it, “In thee O Lord do I put my trust.”

Or, as Peter says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1Peter 5:7).

The Lord is sovereign and we are in His hands. This is true whether we are at peace or at war. Keep on trusting.

Feb 04, 2026

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

The book of Job is regarded by most commentators as the oldest book in the Bible. It’s a remarkable work dealing with the universal theme of suffering and evil. The troubles described bear a remarkable resemblance to much of what we face here in the 21st century let alone what humanity has dealt with over aeons. Perhaps one of the most quotable quotes comes from Eliphaz, one of Job’s three “comforters”: “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7).

Or to put it in other words, “Life happens”, and it’s not always a happy happening.

When we look at the last hundred years of our history it appears that those “sparks” are flying upwards in troubling volume. Wars and rumours of wars, whether two world wars or countless regional conflicts, have defined our troubles. We are as many put it “in a mess”.

Currently we are inundated with bad news. The Ukraine is still under bombardment from Russia, Sudan is embroiled in bloodshed and famine on a colossal scale, and Iran and the USA are on the edge of another regional war. Little wonder we are troubled and as Jeremiah put it, “sick at heart”.

We need to hear Jesus. He says, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy of heart and I will give you rest”. This is more than a bromide, it’s a powerful word of truth from the Son of God. Nothing takes an omniscient Lord by surprise. He is, as always, sovereign.

Our troubles are a mere blip in history. Our Heavenly Father sees the end from the beginning and his will ultimately will prevail. It’s time to revisit the timeless statement of faith, “ In God we trust”.