Carol Purves

Life can be hard at the moment. For some people times are desperate. But do not forget who is in charge. There will be a time when He will send us showers of blessing. We will be overwhelmed by His gifts and love to us. We just need to wait.

‘I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing’ Ezekiel 34: 26

In our rushed and thoughtless life it is easy to forget the power and might of God. Nothing is to difficult for Him to do, if it is in His will. Sometimes we want something and then because it doesn’t happen we think it is God failing. It us wanting the wrong things.

‘Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see…………… Numbers 11:23

There’s probably not much joy about at the moment. But in the midst of our world troubles there are many blessings. We need to have a willing spirit to be able to see them.

‘Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant be a willing spirit to sustain me.’ Psalm 51:12

‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.’ James 1:19

I’ve decided that my failing is the first commandment. Oh and probably the second. I’m not slow or quick to become angry, but I don’t listen enough and I am not slow to speak. I speak and then my brain follows.

In our present situation many more people are calling out to God. But when life goes back to nearly normal, we mustn’t forget God then. God is probably trying to teach us something at the moment. Probably something different for each one of us. We need to find what it is and then remember it.

‘I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.’ Psalm 34:4

‘Peace be with you.’ John 20:19

‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ James 1:17

‘What kind of man is this, even the winds and the waves obey Him.’ Matthew 8:27

This is the kind of Man we trust in and know has the world situation in His hands. This is the kind of Man who loves us in spite of our wayward ways. This is the kind of Man we will be praising and thanking when life returns to normality.

In the face of this virus we need to be strong. We are all suffering in different ways. My suffering is not your suffering,your suffering is not mine, but it is all suffering. In our own strength we can’t cope. We need the power of God.

‘Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’ 1 Timothy 2:1

This text tells us that as Christians we will have suffering. But it also tells us that Christ will restore us. What we need to do is to wait for God’s perfect timing.

‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, sure and steadfast.’ 1 Peter 5:10