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?
Does it feel like the world is just random & chaotic? Whether it’s the personal struggles that you face, the health of friends, the coronavirus pandemic or any of the other global problems that we are aware of. How, how can we be convinced of a God in all of this? Where is the evidence of His authority and power – and His kindness? These are words from Psalm 9 – can they really be true?
The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. 9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
God really is working, in so many ways. But I need to remind myself that the world we live in is not paradise. In the words of a talk I gave at CBC last year “It ain’t a garden” – it’s a battlefield. The bible says that “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1John 5:19). The world is a bit of a mess. But, and it’s a big but, the Lord reigns forever. The words of this psalm are so true – He is working right now, His kingdom is coming, He is a place of refuge for anyone who comes to Him, and in the end, He will sort it all out. We should pray, like the early Christians, “Maranatha” – “Come Lord” (1Corinthains 16:22).
Hold on friends, the Lord reigns forever.
May God bless you today, Matt