God who is with us in our troubles
Coronavirus has affected all of us in one way or another; people are feeling sad, anxious and a whole range of negative emotions. Even those of us who are feeling good have our down moments. Connecting with each other, being thankful, praying, looking after ourselves all help us.
Over the last weeks stuck at home many of us are reaching out for resources to help us. Some of us are experiencing sleepless nights others feeling lonely at home or maybe worried about the future; some of us have gone through intense distress over the past few weeks and I appreciate how difficult it has been. God desires to journey with us in our pains. He is the living loving God who delights to be with us in our troubles; he is the God who in Jesus Christ senses our pain; he is the Father who cares for his children and the spirit who can comfort us in our pain. Let’s turn to him for comfort and meaning over the next few weeks and months.
Maybe you would like to step out and try some of the breathing exercises or journaling we are doing at Soul Space which help us to navigate our circumstances or join one of our weekly online connections – whether that is after a service or midweek. If you can’t connect online there is a phone-in service where you can listen to a church service. If there is anything else that we can help you with then do get in touch.
Before the crisis struck, I had a deep impression of impending trouble coming. I saw a picture of people in a lake struggling with waves buffeting them and Jesus was saying “get into the boat with me,” once we were in the boat with Jesus, we were still affected by the storm but we were not drowning in the waves. That is the effect of faith. We can know the comfort and calm of God as we sit with him through the storm and reach out to bless and touch others. Let’s have the attitude of those who have tasted of the Lord and know his peace so that we can share it with others; and if we don’t know his peace then pray and ask him “Lord I don’t know your peace, show me how to experience it” and then tune in to Soul Space and our Sunday services for encouragement and help on the way.
Every blessing Mike