He Carries Us All
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What a time this is in our world today! It is truly unprecedented. The news changes by the minute. It's impossible to keep up with all that is happening around the world as the pandemic charges from country to country. It's easy to become overwhelmed if we don't keep our focus continually on the Lord! I wish I could see all this from His perspective. The one thing I'm certain of is that He is still in control. It's not too big for Him!
The President of South Africa has implemented a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, which started last night. The number of coronavirus cases has been climbing daily, so it seems timely to take this decisive step to try and "flatten the curve". This decision could well be our saving grace.
With all of this, none of the Care Team are able to go to Floyd at this time. He is wonderfully cared for by the hospital staff, but I know he will miss the visits of the carers. We pray even more for angels to keep him company!!
I am a firm believer that God works during hard times to bring good. I am trusting Him for that in this global pandemic. I'm praying and I'm watching. I know God is at work. I'm asking Him to open my eyes to see His love, mercy, goodness, and miracles being poured out.
The news, and all forms of social media, are clamouring for our attention 24/7. My phone seems to ding continually. As I was thinking and praying about this I was reminded of the verses in 1 Kings 19:11,12.
"Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."
There are "winds, earthquakes, and fires" all around us in the swirl of all that is happening. I was impressed that I need to be listening for the "still small voice." I don't want to miss what God is saying to me, to us in the midst of all this.
On the personal front, I have had to make the hard decision to cancel any of the Care Team going to Floyd at this time. He is wonderfully cared for by the hospital staff, but I know he will miss the visits of the carers. It just seems best to err on the side of caution for the moment. We pray even more for angels to keep him company!!
I have been meditating and praying Psalm 91 a lot. It is FULL of promises of God's watch-care over us.
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because He loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
I am watching to see Him at work, I am listening for His still small voice, and I am standing on His promises. He has never failed me, or you. He is with us continually!
I have already been in isolation for over a week - before the rest of the country joined me in staying home (although they can still go to the grocery store and pharmacy). I have been house bound a lot over the last 4 years on our unexpected journey, but this is the first time I've been totally alone. The first few days especially were hard. I found I had to battle anxiety creeping into my thoughts, my mind. I wasn't expecting that.
I'm a very practical person, so I asked the Lord to give me guidelines for surviving this time alone. It was so clear that for all the "isolation" I've faced, this would be very different. I recognized immediately that I needed to get my focus off of myself. Here are some things I felt the Lord put on my heart:
I need to be praying continually, especially in getting my focus turned outward.
I need to worship God for who He is in the midst of the uncertain time - standing on His promises.
I need to have a heart of gratitude - thanking God for all I DO have, not focusing on what I don't have or what I'm missing.
In stressful moments, I've found that just speaking out His name - Jesus - relieves the stress. There is power in the name of Jesus!
I need to do things to change my focus. I've found it a bit hard to concentrate on a book, or even a movie - but I've been working on a big puzzle! The concentration needed for that has been great! I love puzzles, but I haven't done one in years.
It's good to get out in the fresh air. We've had some beautiful sunny days. Winter is coming soon, so enjoying the sunshine is wonderful.
I exercise with my "deck walking." I just read about a man who walked a whole marathon on his deck. I don't know if I'll manage that, but I do like the exercise.
I actively look for ways to encourage others. There are so many facing the same things I'm going through. As I pray, I find God brings people to my mind. We have so many "tools" at our disposal with our phones and computers to reach out to people.
I'm convinced that God will use this rather anxious season to grow me/us and make me/us stronger! He doesn't waste any of these experiences in our lives.
I was encouraged in my quiet time that God "sees me." He sees what I'm walking through - what all of us are walking through - in this unprecedented time. Just as God saw Hagar in the wilderness - He sees us in whatever situation we're in. "You are the God who sees me," she said. Genesis 16:13 We are seen by Him! He is mindful of each of us as we lockdown or shelter in place. He sees us and is with us to help us.
Shortly after the lockdown was announced, a friend sent this. I found it helpful.
L. O. C. K. D. O. W. N. is a time to:
L - isten to God's voice and reflect.
O - bey His word and teachings.
C - all on Jesus' name and be calm.
K - now what God's purpose is in this.
D - well in His presence. Don't panic.
O - ffer a prayer for everyone's safety.
W - ait and be patient. This, too, shall pass.
N - urture our relationship with Him.
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2
"Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you." Isaiah 41:10
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
"My grace is sufficient for you." 2 Corinthians 12:9
The world has changed drastically in recent weeks, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can trust Him to get us through this unbelievable time.