We are living in troubling times, times of uncertainty causing significant disruption to our daily lives. How many of us, even a few weeks ago, would have imagined being confined to our homes for the foreseeable future? But there is One who knew, one to whom we can, and should, turn to in these troubling times.
Our God, has not been caught out by what is happening, what we are now living through. He is not the author of the corona virus, nor the creator of the chaos that has ensued. However, he is God, the creator, who knows all things. The bible tells us that God knows the end from the beginning. The Message puts it;
'I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have - incomparable, irreplaceable - From the very beginning
telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, ‘I’m in this for the long haul, I’ll do exactly what I set out to do,’ Isaiah 46:9-10.
What a wonderful comfort these verse are to each one of us, what a comforting description of God. The only, incomparable, God who knew this situation was going to happen and how we would respond; globally, nationally and personally. He is the one who will see it through, who will be in it with us until the end, elsewhere in the bible (Heb 13:5) God said 'I will never leave you or forsake you'. We are encouraged in the book of Deuteronomy (31:6);
'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;He will never leave you nor forsake you.'
This is not just theory, a collection of bible verses, but these are words that God has given to us to encourage in times such as this. These are words that have been proven down the ages by ordinary people who have chosen to believe them and live by them.
So what is your response going to be?
You can allow fear to grip your heart and try to control the situation, control the uncontrollable. Or you can 'take refuge in Him', you can make a series of conscious choices, day-by-day to place your trust in God, 'the Lord who is good'.
Lord help me everyday to remember that you are good and to take refuge in you.
Amen