For What It's Worth by Erin

“Pandemic Ponderings”: I am trying to think about a nice way to say this without ‘beating the heck out of the bush’, so to speak, because I say it as much for myself as I do for anyone who is reading this.

We are in really tough times, and though God did not cause this to teach us a lesson, He uses all things for our good. So maybe the answer isn’t to yearn for ‘business as usual’.
 
Brett talked about the disciples on the road to Emmaus, heading to their Vegas when their times got tough. And then God, in the person of Jesus Christ, reminded them why He had come, and what that meant in their lives. And their hearts burned because what Jesus offered is so much more than anything they could find anywhere else. There was a reason that the Israelites wandered through the desert for 40 years. Are we in our own desert now? They were a stiff necked and obstinate people. Are we any different? Is there something that we need to learn, like the Hebrews, that will take us to a better normal than what we had before?
 
Can we remember that, unlike the Hebrew’s who “only” had Moses, we have Jesus Christ to rely on, the fulfillment of all of the promises given to our forefathers? Here is Moses’ prayer on the Hebrews behalf when Israel turned their backs on what God was offering:

“He said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.” Ex 34:9

St. Paul, who knew Jesus, says this in Romans 8:37-39:

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow —not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

And here is what Jesus had to say to His disciples (and to us):

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  John 14:27

Jesus also said:

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

May we find a new and better normal when all of this settles. May God take care of us and our families and keep us safe and healthy.  May He lead us to a closer and deeper relationship with Him!  Amen  +