The first casualties of upheaval can be love, kindness, and patience. But crisis is also a moment when love for God & one another can spring up. For 150 days, starting on 17th March 2020, I will write 300 words based on one of the 150 psalms in the bible. How can I find and give love in the midst of coronavirus?
It all feels uncertain. I love certainty. I dislike ambiguity. Some people cope with it better – but I want to know what the plan is. Where are we going, what’s the next thing to do? That’s what I want to know. So being in a time where the future is so unknown, even more than usual, is really really irritating. How long is the lockdown going to be going on for? Will my health be OK? Will my friends and family be OK? What about my job? What about the kids at school? What’s going to happen to the world and to the economy?
The answer is, no-one knows. There is no certainty. How do we cope? Let’s read Psalm 26:
1 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.
12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.
Three things here that are certain. David says that he has:
- Trusted the Lord without faltering
- Always been mindful of God’s love
- Loved the place where God lives
And the consequence (in verse 12) – “My feet stand on level ground”. The things that the Psalm says we can rely upon are the Lord, His love and His dwelling place. None of these are our circumstances.
Your circumstances cannot bring certainty
There is so little that is certain in life and the world. But, and it’s a big but, we can be entirely certain of God. He is the one certain thing.
Have a good day. Blessings, Matt