Prayer for Faith To Wait While The Covid-19 Curve Bends But Restrictions Continue
Saturday April 11, 2020
Hello again on this “in between day” – Holy Saturday. We’ve looked with sorrow and gratitude at the suffering and death of Jesus – an experience necessary so we could know forgiveness and come into living relationship with a Holy God.
Like Jesus' followers at the time it’s almost as if we are “shell shocked” at how swiftly ad dramatically things changed. Wasn’t it only a few days ago that Jesus was riding in triumph into Jerusalem and everyone was shouting His praise and waving palm branches in honour of him. Now he’s dead. Hope seems gone and who’s next?
Somehow those conditions seem to speak to me today of what many of us are experiencing. A few weeks ago we heard about a virus so far away in Wu Han, China. Officials here who were “in the know” and watching kept telling us that our risk was low. The outbreaks were limited to cruise ships far away and countries like South Korea, Italy and Iran. They were monitoring what was going on and those who were arriving in our community after travelling abroad and so on.
And then suddenly it all changed. The numbers of those infected in our own community started to increase. One long term care facility and then another had an outbreak. Suddenly we were no longer safe. Suddenly we needed to go home and stay home and physically distance ourselves from our friends and loved ones. People’s job disappeared. Restaurants, non-essential workplaces all closed down. Family members and friends abroad had to get back as borders closed and transportation links shut down.
And on this Holy Saturday we find ourselves in an “in between time.” It seems like the curve of the virus spread might be bending or flattening but every day more parks and roads are closed so we all stay home. On this major religious holiday weekend none of us can go to church or synagogue to remember and give thanks for all God has done.
Every day feels strange. Keeping our eyes up and avoiding others when we do go out to buy what we need feels weird. The fact that there’s never any other news than news about covid-19 in our country and abroad has attached this sense of surreal to our daily living.
In this very strange time, it’s good to take time to remember that God has not abandoned us. God is still with us. God has great plans that are taking place as one moment turns into another and one day into another. Jesus’ friends didn’t know that by the time the morning sun came tomorrow Jesus would be gloriously alive. Right now they were simply hidden away behind locked door, shocked and fearful and totally disorientated.
Let’s come to God in our own, “Hidden away places of disorientation and unknown.” Let’s ask God to help us even be conscious of His presence with us and place our trust in Him going forward.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
On this very strange in between time, we find the experience of Holy Saturday to mirror our hearts in some way. We come to you because we have no where else to go. It may seem like all is lost but You promised that You were the way, the truth, and the life, for us and that all your promises are ours and would be fulfilled.
We are so limited in our ability to see. We can look back and remember some things from yesterday, last month, last year but we know nothing about what’s coming or the context in which all that is happening fits.
Only You, God, know it all. You are the God who holds time. You are before time and You always will be. You are the God who is present and who is working in all things for good for those who love You. We may not see it right. It may not be happening in the time and way that we wish, but as surely as the disciples had the amazing experience of your resurrection on Easter Sunday after feeling so afraid and lost on Saturday, so we want to commit ourselves to getting through today with You, trusting that You have something good to teach us in this experience and have prepared a way for us to get to the other side.
It is really tempting to give in to the fear and worry about the unknown in our health, our finances, and our future but we’re grateful that we don’t have to live there today. We can live in faith that You are God, that You are here, and that You reward us as we reach out to you.
And so on this Saturday – after Good Friday but not yet Easter Sunday – things seeming to be improving with he covid-19 virus spread but restrictions and unknowns still in place – we choose to stand with you. We will trust you with all our heart. We will not depend on our own understanding. In all our ways we will obey You today, trusting that you will make our path smooth and straight
We will Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on
your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIRV
In that faith, we pray the Serenity Prayer together:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with you forever in the next.
Amen.
So friends, let’s do everything in our power to make this a day of love and care for one another and worship and honour to God. In the middle of our experiences, let hope rise and joyful anticipation because Easter Sunday comes tomorrow and the power of God’s resurrection is ours. Have a great day.
Like Jesus' followers at the time it’s almost as if we are “shell shocked” at how swiftly ad dramatically things changed. Wasn’t it only a few days ago that Jesus was riding in triumph into Jerusalem and everyone was shouting His praise and waving palm branches in honour of him. Now he’s dead. Hope seems gone and who’s next?
Somehow those conditions seem to speak to me today of what many of us are experiencing. A few weeks ago we heard about a virus so far away in Wu Han, China. Officials here who were “in the know” and watching kept telling us that our risk was low. The outbreaks were limited to cruise ships far away and countries like South Korea, Italy and Iran. They were monitoring what was going on and those who were arriving in our community after travelling abroad and so on.
And then suddenly it all changed. The numbers of those infected in our own community started to increase. One long term care facility and then another had an outbreak. Suddenly we were no longer safe. Suddenly we needed to go home and stay home and physically distance ourselves from our friends and loved ones. People’s job disappeared. Restaurants, non-essential workplaces all closed down. Family members and friends abroad had to get back as borders closed and transportation links shut down.
And on this Holy Saturday we find ourselves in an “in between time.” It seems like the curve of the virus spread might be bending or flattening but every day more parks and roads are closed so we all stay home. On this major religious holiday weekend none of us can go to church or synagogue to remember and give thanks for all God has done.
Every day feels strange. Keeping our eyes up and avoiding others when we do go out to buy what we need feels weird. The fact that there’s never any other news than news about covid-19 in our country and abroad has attached this sense of surreal to our daily living.
In this very strange time, it’s good to take time to remember that God has not abandoned us. God is still with us. God has great plans that are taking place as one moment turns into another and one day into another. Jesus’ friends didn’t know that by the time the morning sun came tomorrow Jesus would be gloriously alive. Right now they were simply hidden away behind locked door, shocked and fearful and totally disorientated.
Let’s come to God in our own, “Hidden away places of disorientation and unknown.” Let’s ask God to help us even be conscious of His presence with us and place our trust in Him going forward.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
On this very strange in between time, we find the experience of Holy Saturday to mirror our hearts in some way. We come to you because we have no where else to go. It may seem like all is lost but You promised that You were the way, the truth, and the life, for us and that all your promises are ours and would be fulfilled.
We are so limited in our ability to see. We can look back and remember some things from yesterday, last month, last year but we know nothing about what’s coming or the context in which all that is happening fits.
Only You, God, know it all. You are the God who holds time. You are before time and You always will be. You are the God who is present and who is working in all things for good for those who love You. We may not see it right. It may not be happening in the time and way that we wish, but as surely as the disciples had the amazing experience of your resurrection on Easter Sunday after feeling so afraid and lost on Saturday, so we want to commit ourselves to getting through today with You, trusting that You have something good to teach us in this experience and have prepared a way for us to get to the other side.
And so on this Saturday – after Good Friday but not yet Easter Sunday – things seeming to be improving with he covid-19 virus spread but restrictions and unknowns still in place – we choose to stand with you. We will trust you with all our heart. We will not depend on our own understanding. In all our ways we will obey You today, trusting that you will make our path smooth and straight
We will Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on
In that faith, we pray the Serenity Prayer together:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with you forever in the next.
Amen.
So friends, let’s do everything in our power to make this a day of love and care for one another and worship and honour to God. In the middle of our experiences, let hope rise and joyful anticipation because Easter Sunday comes tomorrow and the power of God’s resurrection is ours. Have a great day.
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