16/4/2020 – Coping with Changes
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about quite a lot of changes to our lives – social isolation, inability to gather with friends and families, road trips and holiday plans are disrupted. We long for the day when life will return to normal and we pray constantly that the crisis will end soon. We hope that a vaccine will be successfully developed soon.
Our daily routines, our schedules and plans are disrupted, and we cannot plan too far ahead. As Christians, we put our trust in Jesus. We may not know what the future holds, but we have a sure and certain hope in Christ.
Amidst all the changes in our lives, Christ is the one certainty. The pandemic is temporal and will end. We want it to end immediately but we need to recognise that God is in charge. Our trust and our hope in Christ is eternal. Nothing in this world can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38). We are created for relationships – with God and with each other (Gen. 2.15 – 25). God wants us to gather – to encourage and to watch out for each other (Heb. 10.24f). Social isolation means that we cannot continue with our usual work and social activities. Our abilities to connect with each other are curtailed and we have to figure out new ways of doing that. Technology has enabled us to keep in touch and we must work hard to maintain our social interactions and connect with each other.
Through all the upheavals, we have our God who never changes (Heb. 13.8). He is our constant Rock and Refuge. Psalm 18.30 – 33 encourages us to focus on God; to take refuge in Him during all the uncertainties.
God — his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is a rock? Only our God.
God — he clothes me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer
and sets me securely on the heights.
Check out Staying at Home During COVID-19 for a good article on how to cope with social isolation.
Author: Peter Chin
Prayer of the Day
Our Father in heaven,
We pray for people in our church and community who are affected by COVID-19. Help us, O Lord, to show compassionate to those around us who are struggling.
Help us to reach out and care for them and to point them to you. Teach us to share our lives and our relationship with you to comfort our friends, our families and our neighbours. Help us to be Christ-like to them.
Grant us your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to rest confidently in you and to continue to commit all things to you in prayer. May we rest under the shade of your protection as we wait for your relief from this pandemic.
You alone are our sure foundation and our true hope.
Amen.
