“For you have been my hope, sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth” - Psalm 71:5 (NIV)
As news of the corona pandemic started spreading there was a noticeable human behaviour world over. Panic buying. In quick succession shelves were wiped in many supermarkets of essentials, especially, for some reason, toilet paper! Then others not content started also queuing up for guns, just in case.
There have been certainly good reasons for some of those who have bought good in mass. Like to protect one’s family from starvation caused by a prolonged lockdown, just in case. However, some have only been motivated by greed and lack of regard for one’s neighbour. There have been numerous cases of individuals who strip shops of all essentials completely unmindful of the next buyer.
Panic buying and hoarding has revealed two major things. First, where the hope of many people is. Because they have no faith that God is watching over them then their refuge is to amass trolleys of goods. The challenge here is what happens when they all finish up! Where do you look up to then?
And then there is fear. This fear has also been driven because people have no hope in a protector watching out for them. Hence they think by turning their homes into warehouses of goods they will be safe.
But there is a sovereign God who is watching over His people, ever, in good and bad times. When seized with fear just remember, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:3, NIV)
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus amen of Nazareth, that in times as these of a pandemic I never look elsewhere but put all my trust in you!
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
