Corona Blog --2: God with us, God within us
Father, we long to know You moreWhat is His heart for us in this confusion and uncertainty?
Let’s pray.
‘Father, we long to know You more. Please lead us deeper, draw us closer to Your heart.’
The other day, I sat down to spend some time alone with God and had a major wobble. Until then I’d been fine, rising to new challenges, adjusting to new circumstances, taking new opportunities. But then, all unexpectedly, it came over me: ‘This is really scary.’ Graphs and stats of the spread of the virus worldwide, drastic actions taken to combat it, so many people sick and dying. I felt small and helpless. “Father, this is really scary.”
I sensed God’s voice, “Mary, it’s OK, I’m here, I am with you.”
And I as sat for a while with the scary feelings and God’s deep reassurance, I realised that I was trying to see, to look into the future, to know what was going to happen. But I couldn’t see. I don’t know.
I don’t know what will happen, to me, to my loved ones, to the world…
But I do know Who is with me, whatever happens.
I do know that, no matter what faces us, we never face it alone. Father God walks with us, stands with us in all things. Father God holds us in His embrace, always. Like the ReadyBrek advert, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie11lR8kQeY, we are surrounded, enclosed by His love. God is with us.
In the Old Testament, God repeatedly reassured Joshua, the leader of His people: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus’ name is a variant of the name Joshua and, in the New Testament, God is with us even more closely. In Jesus, God-as-man, God is not only with us, He is one of us, a human being!
God is with us, wherever we are. Because of Jesus, we can know God within us, by His Holy Spirit. If we invite Him.
Let’s pray.
‘Father, thank You for Your endless love for us Thank You that You are always with us. Thank You that You sent Jesus to live as a human being, so that we could also know You within us. ’
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Love, Mary
© Mary Jacquelin Douglas 2020
Hello
Hi, my name is Mary. I’ve been a member of City Gate church for ages, and my desire to know God grows every year. I’ve recently been exploring the relationship we can have with God as Father because of Jesus, and that colours everything I see. In the midst of this corona virus pandemic, I find myself wondering what God is doing at this time.
Mary, thank you for this. I love your honesty and also providing a ‘way out’ of despair in the situation we can find ourselves in. You are right, God is Love and He’s always there ready to reassure and love us when we turn to Him.
Thank you, Disie, I am so glad He is Who He is!