Tag Archives: Coronavirus

Faith

His Grace Is Sufficient

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My church have been amazing during the lockdown period providing for people’s needs both practically and spiritually. One of the ways they have met our needs spiritually is by providing a daily reflection which takes place three times a week through their YouTube channel. People from church have provided us with words of encouragement and wisdom during a period that has been hard to navigate at times.

Someone at church then approached me to see if I wanted to provide a thought for their daily reflection. Being given this opportunity was exciting, but it was also daunting at the same time. What could I possibly provide that may be able to help others through what they are experiencing? I find in these moments, God has a way of showing us what He wants others to see. This post is the result of What God has shown me through this lockdown period. To see the YouTube version click here.

His Grace is Sufficient

I bet we have all had a wide range of feelings during this Covid-19 crisis. At times we have probably felt angry with the situation we are faced with. Or maybe you have felt sad. Maybe there were times when you felt nervous or anxious about the unknown. Sometimes we may have even had a little cry and experienced all sorts of emotions in between. 

And it’s all ok. Everything we are feeling is all ok. There is no wrong emotion to feel when we are in the middle of a crisis. What you are feeling right now is the right response to feel, and it’s OK. 

At the end of the day, we didn’t see this crisis coming. It came upon us so quickly and we were thrown into a whirlwind of dos and don’ts. There is not one person who has not been affected by Covid-19. We may not have been physically affected, but certainly the restrictions that were put in place would have had an impact on us immensely. 

During this epidemic, I have found myself experiencing a range of emotions. From feeling happy and content when I have spent quality time with my family, to feeling extreme frustration when my kids cannot get along with each other. Life is not easy at the best of times. Throw in an epidemic into the mix and you probably have something that resembles my cake making. Absolute shambles! 

We then probably start to place expectations on ourselves because we think we should be able to cope with this. This is new territory though. The vast majority of us has probably never lived through an epidemic. Shops shutting down. Holidays cancelled. Schools closing. Jobs lost. Appointments rescheduled. Our lives put on hold. No wonder we were probably feeling overwhelmed. 

Right at the beginning, I felt so overwhelmed with it all. I had put so much pressure on myself to achieve everything that it nearly all came crashing down. Momentarily, I forgot who I could turn to in times like this to help me get through. I thought I could do it on my own, but I couldn’t. I was on my knees one day and just cried out, “I can’t do this anymore”.

As I knelt there feeling overwhelmed, that’s when I felt a gentle touch saying “You don’t have to”. It’s in our weakest moments that God shows His greatest strengths. When we feel weak with pain or stress, that is when we can expect God to reveal Himself. 

It’s in our weakest moments that God shows His greatest strengths. Click To Tweet

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians chapter 12:9:  

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Something to think about…

Living this life we have takes more than human strength. We can only get through this by the grace and power of God. Don’t do what I did and wait until you are on your knees crying out to Him. Take time now and ask Him to come into your heart. You will be amazed at how God will come into your brokenness and shine through those cracks in your life. 

Prayer

Lord, I know I am weak. but I also know that you use my pain and weakness to show your amazing strength. Please give me the knowledge that your grace is all I need. Help me be proud of my weaknesses, because they will show your strength and protection. Shine through me today, Lord, so that others may see the amazing power you can give. Amen

Abide, Faith, Holy Week Reflections

Lockdown-Holy Week Reflections-Day 1

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Lockdown – Day 1

The last couple of weeks have been interesting to say the least. When the government announced on 26th March that our country was going into lockdown, panic ensued. The thought of not seeing our friends or family for weeks, maybe months on end brought about a sense of fear. 

But do we really need to be afraid?

This is the question I ask myself and the answer has taken me a while to lock into. The answer is found in the Word itself. 

LOCKDOWN

Over the next week, starting today on Palm Sunday and finishing on Easter Sunday, I am going to be looking at what each of these letters can mean to us. I will focus on how we can use lockdown as a way of not being fearful, but being fearless. 

Let’s not be afraid of the unknown. In this time of uncertainty, let’s come closer to the One who wants to be known to us. 

Let’s not be afraid of the unknown. In this time of uncertainty, let’s come closer to the One who wants to be known to us.  Click To Tweet

Let Go and Let God

Four months ago I had never heard about Coronavirus, let alone think I could ever be affected by it. Who could have predicted the whole world being on total lockdown? I had plans, which I’m sure we all did. 

This week should have seen me having an operation which I needed, and I should be in bed right now recovering from it. A month ago I was assured there was no need to worry about my operation being cancelled. Two weeks later, surely enough it was. 

Secretly, I think my husband is pleased. And I guess I am in a way too. Who wants to be in a hospital in a time like this? The safest place is to be at home. Right?

We were both concerned about me having an operation at this time. As much as it was needed to improve my health, we thought it would be compromised more given the situation we are facing. 

Let God Worry

There have been a few instances like this over the past month where I have been concerned about situations. One by one though I have seen events be cancelled and opportunities taken away. 

Usually when this happens, I go into this downward spiral and start to wonder why all this would be happening. “Why me, God? Why me?” Instead, I find myself in a place where, although there is a little anxiety about what is going on (I won’t lie about that) I feel a sense that God is here and He has this in His hands. 

Worrying about the future does us no favours at all. It takes away the joy we can have today. When we allow ourselves to dwell on what may or may not happen, we end up losing out on the gift we are given. Today. This is why it’s called the present.

There are a lot of unknowns in this world today, and that’s probably the understatement of the century! Why not trust God with our future so we can focus on what takes place today?

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Something to think about…

Letting go and letting God is not easy. I get that! Start with the small things you are holding close to you. One by one, you will start to feel lighter. It may be surprising how free you feel and how unafraid you may be once you do let go.

Prayer

Lord, letting go of all our worries about the current situation we are facing is super hard. We are afraid of the unknown. But you Lord, are not afraid. You know everything that is going to happen. Prise our hands away from gripping tightly onto what we do not know. Worrying about the unknown does us no good. Instead, help us to open our hands to the gift you have given right in front of us. A new day. Help us to focus on what we can change today and let you carry tomorrow in your hands. In your name, Amen.