A Great God

This world is going through a phase of uncertainty the likes of which mankind has never seen before. A small virus has invaded and driven people crazy by washing their hands and sanitizing. Everybody fears this virus irrespective of being rich or poor, black or white, adult or child. Anyone can be infected! Many have become penniless, homeless and helpless. The world’s most esteemed presidents, scientists and scholarly say in one accord: “There is nothing that we can do. We are doing our best!” People have become depressed, defensive and desolate. While we clap every week for the front line workers, there are still millions of lives lost and families affected. The pain of not being able to see their loved ones for one last time leaves them shattered and their life is never the same again.It is during these times that people tend to question God. Why did this Corona virus pandemic happen? Why is God keeping silent seeing people suffer? Why did you place me in such a situation? David reminds us in Psalm.71:19,20

Also, your righteousness O God is very high, You have done great things O God, Who is like You?

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,

Shall revive me again and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

The Lord who did great things what is seen and unseen is showing us great and severe troubles today. He is not a God who abandons us in uncertain times but a Father who wants us to taste and see that the Lord is good. This world has acknowledged in one accord that what which was counted to be great is no greater. Positions, Race, Liberty and Fame cannot make oneself to be happy and people would have wished to live the so called life looking at pictures on Instagram of “Influencers”. This lock down has led people to put on new roles as chefs, singers and so much more.  The joy of staying in pajamas all day and not being bothered on how you look or what you wear for tomorrow from setting up the alarm and the thought of waking up would make you sleep more has all come to reality. The snooze button is wondering for sure what has happened. The so called childhood dream of cancelling exams and playing all day has made kids happier and parents crazier. This was all once a dream and it is a reality now. Everybody is impacted and it differs on how each struggle.In times like these when we have all become numb to empathy looking at the number of deaths around us and the hashtags #wewillfightthistogether , #staysafe and #stayhome ,God wants us to be reminded:

Psalm.71:20,21 “You shall revive me again and bring up again from the depths of the earth.

You shall increase my greatness and comfort me on every side”

Although you might feel like things are falling apart and really sunk in by this isolation, you have a God who is capable to revive you again and restore all that is lost. The sailor of our ship is by our side, Psalm 56:9. He is a Father who neither slumbers nor sleeps. He preserves and protects us, Psalm 121. This lockdown is not to look out of your windows and wish if you could be out there but instead to look into your lives and acknowledge Psalm 71:19- O God who is like You? The world has found comfort through spreading hashtags #soonthistooshallpass and has forgotten that the origin is from the Bible.

1 John 2:17 “The world is passing away and the lust of it but he who does the will of God abides forever”

Matthew.24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away but by no means my word will pass away”

Our creator is preparing us for the bigger picture. He has been patient with this rebellious generation thus far Ezekiel 12:25. This is not just a time to identify what you love doing or who you really are all by yourself following your heart but instead to apply Romans 12 which includes rejoicing in hope, being patient in tribulation and continuing steadfastly in prayer. It is through these uncertain times that we need to glorify and thank Him for quarantine life, Romans.5:3-4

Corona virus came in as a completely new virus and invaded the whole earth. If a small virus that cannot be visible to human eyes has invaded mankind, imagine how much we can invade if we have faith as a mustard seed? In Psalm.71: 15, For I do not know their limits. We do not know the limit of corona virus or this lockdown for these are uncertain times. But this is what the Lord is preparing us to be v.16 “I will go in the strength of the Lord God I will make mention of your righteousness of Yours only”

So what does this great God want you to do during these times? Psalm.71:23,24 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to you and my soul which you have redeemed. My tongue shall also talk of your righteousness all the day long. Our Father pities with us, cries with us and will never forsake us even if our close ones can. The Lord who did great things has shown great and severe troubles. This was well pleasing in His eyes and we are obliged to obey and accept this phase through praise and thanksgiving rather than questioning Him. He has promised to revive us again and bring us up. He will increase our greatness and comfort us on every side. It is not the greatness and comfort that man can provide but that of which is mentioned in John.14:27 –Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. When you have a Father who watches over you as the apple of his eye, Where is God during your lockdown? Have you placed him in a box and assigned 10 mins before bedtime? Is he just a God to be looked upon for blessings? Has he become a person to fulfill your shopping list? Where is this GREAT GOD in your life?

Imagine being adored and loved by your Creator all day and night, interceding for you every time you fall, craving for you to be with him, crying with you in your sad moments and rejoicing in your happy moments. Psalm.56:13b(NLT) O God in your life giving light. Let us stop living life the way we want #YOLO (You only live once) #mylifemyrules but instead Your life, Your will be done! 

Psalm.71:5a,14“For you are my hope O Lord God. But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more”

Although this quarantine might seem to be overwhelming, we have a God who can comfort us on every side and He wants us to rejoice in hope. It’s not just that we will fight this together but glorify the Lord together in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hands by the Holy Spirit (Rom.5:2-5). The only solution is to be at his feet and He is the only one who is in control of this situation. Yes, we believe the God of great things has enabled Corona virus to invade, a great and severe trouble! Place your hope in Him and He will grant you the peace that passes all understanding. To the one who has read this thus far, this is my prayer for you.

Romans 15:13, Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of Holy Spirit!

- Guest Post (Stancey Mathew)