God’s Word For Times Like TheseSample

…even in the happiest moments of our existence we sense a tinge of sadness… but this intimate experience in which every bit of life is touched by a bit of death can point us beyond the limits of our existence... by making us look forward in expectation to the day when our hearts will be filled with perfect joy, a joy that no one shall take away from us. 

Henri J.M. Nouwen, Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life

ONE DAY

One day we will wake up to a different reality: no lockdown, no isolation, no social distancing and no masks. We hope that these simple things that bring us joy and happiness will be back in our lives again. We are praying that God will help us to overcome and, as Peter says, after we have suffered a little while, we will see how God will restore us and makes us strong, firm and steadfast.          

One day we will wake up to a completely new reality: no lockdown because of sin, no isolation from God, no distancing from each other, no masks. God says that he will move so close that he will wipe every tear from our eyes. Moreover, everything that used to cause tears will disappear. He will give us the water of life to drink without cost. He will renew and restore us as his children to live with him forever in the reality of his glory. 

With your family

In the midst of challenging times it is often helpful to look forward to a better day. Today’s reading paints a little of that picture for us.

Gather the following items from your home and place them on your table: tissues (one for each family member present), a packet or bottle that contained medicine/pills, some dirt in a cup or container and a paper or plastic bag.

Sit around the table and read Revelation 21:3-5. As you read each part of verse 4: wipe each other’s eyes with a tissue, and say ‘no more crying’, and then throw them into the paper bag; say ‘no more pain’ - throw the medicine packet into the bag; say ‘no more death’ - throw the soil into the bag. 

Take your bag of things from this ‘old world’ and go outside together and put them into your waste bin. 

Thank God for promising to make all things new. 

Action

Think about your friends or people you may know who are suffering for different reasons caused by the virus. Pray for God’s peace and comfort for them.

Lord, in your great mercy, restore us and make us stronger. Amen