Carol Purves

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

‘Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ Colossians 3:12

That’s quite a list! On our own we probably couldn’t manage even one of them to any great degree. We don’t have to do it alone. We have the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. With Him we will manage to achieve this high standard.

At this time there are many people calling on the Lord in distress; those bereaved, sick, in poverty, isolated or fed up with the family. May we remember to speak to Him when things get better; He’s not just a God for bad times; we can praise Him too.

‘I call on the Lord in my distress and He answers me.’ Psalm 120:1

I’m really struck by the fact that God knew about this pandemic before hand. Nothing takes Him by surprise. So He wants us to learn something from it. I wonder what that is.

‘I call on the Lord in my distress and He answers me.’ Psalm 120:1

We all have nights when we can’t sleep, when our problems go round and round in our minds. I’ve found it’s possible to pray ourselves to sleep. By praying to God, not only with our problems but also with praise, refreshing sleep will come.

‘I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears.’ Psalm 34:3