I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME. I MAKE KNOWN THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, FROM ANCIENT TIMES, WHAT IS STILL TO COME. I SAY, ‘MY PURPOSE WILL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL THAT I PLEASE’.
Isaiah 46: 9-10
For many of us we may feel that we are in a season of uncertainty just now.
It may be important to be reassured that we will get through this with God’s help.
Whatever the major trigger of uncertainty it may be on a personal level or within the world that God will use a mess for good. There are so many stories in the bible of deliverance from uncertainty, tragedy, disaster, pain, captivity, disorder.
To freedom, beauty and order.
Do not be anxious about anything …. Phil 4 v 6
Like the old sign which became so popular:
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
We are called to Trust. We need to come to the understanding that we cannot control everything and this period is certainly exposing and highlighting that to us all.
Our experience of the storm is different for each individual.
Imagine being on a vast ocean in a battleship, or a sailing yacht or a kayak and the same storm would result in a different effect for each and need a different approach to overcome it.
Maybe our question in that storm might be better addressed not as why but as what are You showing us here?
The fact that we recognise others reconnoiter in different vessels to ours will give us empathy.
Perhaps the recognition of the fragility and lack of being fit for purpose might make us, with more wisdom, seek for better.
Perhaps we will see that we are not stuck, just stopped delayed for a while and take advantage of being anchored safely while danger passes.
God’s normal message is Go! Now He is saying Stop! Is there a message in that in itself?
We are familiar with our SAT NAV saying stop, turn around when possible and we know we are going the wrong way. By obeying it we are safely led another route towards our destination.
Is this what God is now doing as we are halted by the Coronavirus, is He utilising that stillness to turn us around, bring an end to what is going dramatically wrong?
If we know God well enough we also know we can put our trust in Him.
Just as Joshua led his army for 40 years but when he reached the enemy he obeyed God and had them lay down and rest. The impending battle was won, because he listened and went with Gods timing.
The message seems to be stop wasting today’s strength on tomorrow’s battles which may or may not happen. God provides enough for each day at a time if we trust Him.
The illustration was a recollection of picture I saw a couple of years ago where the Lion, Jesus and the Lamb, all names for the one and the same person of Jesus were superimposed into one. Just as the trinity can be superimposed into one and the same God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Two scriptures that come to mind.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Lessisgreater 