“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 NIV

What a wonderful spring we appear to be having, probably the best for many years. As I partake of my early morning walk, I am serenaded by a vibrant chorus of birdsong amid the quiet of the present ‘lockdown’. The blossom on the trees and shrubs is beautiful and sings praises to our God, the creator of it all. We have so much to be thankful for despite the invisible virus which is striking fear into the hearts of so many people. If only they were as worried about their final destination and turned to the Living Saviour.

Psalm 91 has been quoted to me several times and what a wonderful Psalm it is, but it also must be taken in context. We have a God who is concerned about us and has our eternal security in control, but the pathway there is not so easy for us all. We are not assured an easy path a fact proven in history as well as in the present day where Christians are being slaughtered and persecuted around the world.

Under the present situation, social media has been a great communicator for us all and enabled us to keep in contact with family and neighbours as well as working from home, and churches have been able to ‘cobble up’ worship to help congregations come together in a form. However, there is the down side to this, for just as we can encourage and help each other quickly, so also can we pass gossip and judgement around quickly being drawn into replying and perpetuating the slander and the lies each time that little box ‘pings’ to say there is another message. The devil prowls around seeking someone to devour.

Being a Christian means TOTAL SURRENDER to God, just as Abraham was ready to surrender his only son’s life so we also need to surrender our life completely to the Lord. No caveats or get out clauses, just total trust that God will make all things right in the end—and even if he doesn’t (which He will) remembering that He is God. If you cannot do this then perhaps you have never genuinely committed your life to God and cannot call yourself a Christian.

But how is total surrender possible you may say?

Firstly may I suggest you control your technology and social media only using it for good. Now you can use the time saved getting closer to God by prayer, bible reading and study and doing the things that He will place upon your heart, because He will show you the way forward. He may want to embolden you, encourage you, use you to encourage others and to witness to them. The Lord will treat you individually, boldly and for your benefit.

So where do we turn to get through this pandemic?

Not by seeking feel good bible verses, good as they are. We need to listen for his voice and do the things that we believe He is telling us. We won’t always get it right and we will not always see the end result, only time will tell and it may not be in your lifetime, but only listen for God’s voice confirmed by knowledge of scripture and you will know when you have done the right thing.

We need to have total trust and obedience.

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey

Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
For the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey

Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

May God bless you on your journey

Beverley