Carol Purves

‘I will instruct you and teach you in every way you should go. I will counsel you with My eye on you.’ Psalm 32:8

God knows all about us and cares. We need His instruction and His care. We can’t manage this life without Him. He has got His eye on us. We do not need to worry.

We are all getting older. Maybe we have felt it even more as we have been in lockdown. Many things that we depended on have been stripped away, especially financial support. But our God is so well capable of carrying all our burdens; He is able to sustain us, to carry us when we can’t support ourselves and rescue us from every ill.

‘Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you, I will carry you. I will sustain you and carry you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

‘There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment..’ 1 John 4:18

God must love us so, so much. He still loves us when we fail again and again. When we mess up and forget him, he still loves us. I’m trying to work out how fear has to do with punishment! Some of the Bible takes so much thinking about.

Our future has always been uncertain, whoever we are. In the past we sometimes thought we were in control. These last few months have taught us that we have little choice over the future. It makes sense to trust in someone who is unshakeable and also knows all about the future.

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

‘How much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?’ Matthew 7:11

I always love the phrase ‘how much more’ when we find it in the Bible. It indicates that God is giving us even more blessings than we could ever imagine. Our God is such a loving and generous God. When we sit down and list the gifts He has given us, we could go on and on and still never complete the list.

‘But, you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship.’ 2 Timothy 4:5

What beautifully up to date language! Not sure when this translation was made. The Amplified Version is a little more circumspect. – ‘As for you, be calm and cool and study, accept and suffer every hardship.’ In any version, the meaning is clear. As our up to date slogan says, ‘Keep calm and carry on.’ With the help of God.

In my country there are new rules as we come out of lockdown. With this comes a new set of worries. There are new worries about finance as some payments stop. There are new worries as we re-unite with family and friends. Will things have changed and if not should they have changed? All can be worry.

‘Come to Me, all you who are worrying and burdened and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28

God is here for us today, whatever our trial may be. He knows and He cares. We can talk to Him about it. We just need to hang in there.

‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’ James 1:12

During our present troubles we have been helping and encouraging each other. It would be a pity if this stopped when the virus has passed. Furthermore, it is a command in the Bible to build up each other.

‘Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’ 1 Timothy 5:11

There will be times when we have looked to the world to give us peace. We have not found peace there. We might have looked to other people for help; again we will have been let down. There is only one reliable place to find peace and help.

‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives . Do not be troubled and do not be afraid.’ John 14:27