14/5/2020 – Lift up your eyes to the Lord
It’s good news that the government is starting to relax restrictions. Australia has been successful in flattening the curve. However, the Federal Health Minister warned that CovID-19 is not over yet; not until a vaccine has been successfully developed and deployed.
Many of us have used the opportunity during our social isolation and lockdown to work around the house. The gardens are immaculate; the house is sparkling clean and we probably have run out of jobs around the house and the novelty of staying home is wearing out.
We want the pandemic to end. We pray that God will intervene and grant us a vaccine. We just want to return to our normal lives. Our lives have been on ‘Pause’ for too long.
If you are like me, you are probably also suffering from Zoom fatigue. Even though it is great to be able to see each other virtually, it’s not the same as face to face contact. Some are struggling to cope with the children at home all the time while some miss playing with their grandchildren. The economy downturn is starting to impact directly on us.
The isolation, lockdown and restrictions and the impact on the economy and our livelihoods are getting us down. Our normal work and social activities that gave us routines and meaning are on hold. The confinement is wearing us down, physically and mentally, and we may struggle to motivate ourselves to keep ourselves emotionally and mentally strong and healthy.
Psalm 121 is a good psalm for us to reflect upon. Instead of focusing on our isolation and loneliness and having a pessimistic view of life, verses 1-2 encourages us to lift up our eyes towards the mountains. This is a metaphor that encourages us not to dwell on our problems or anxieties or feel down. Rather, we are to look beyond our narrow view of our current predicament and to look at the wider and bigger picture.
As we lift our eyes to look at the distant mountains, we will see the wonders and beauty of God’s creation around us and are reminded of God’s transcendence and immanence. He controls all creation, including the sun and the moon (v6). He is our God who, as surely as He looks after the birds of the air, will look after us (Matt. 6:26-27). God is with us.
In our isolation and struggles, anxieties and worries, we remember to turn to our Almighty God – my help comes from the LORD. Our relationship with Him does not rely on what we do or how we feel or what is happening to us. Our help comes from God. There is no greater help He gave us than the gift of life through death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verses 3 to 8 tells us not only is God with us. He protects us. He watches over us. He is a shelter for us. He spreads His wings over us (Psa. 17:8).
God has not been caught by surprise by this pandemic. While our lives have been upended through this pandemic, our Sovereign God is the same compassionate, loving and merciful God who is in complete control.
Let us continue to pray that God may bring this pandemic to an end. Until then, let us continue to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ and to look to Him for help for He is our God.
Prayer of the Day
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
