COVID part 5 — light

3 – 5 minute read.

Discouragement, congestion, and the discomfort of a less-than-ideal sleep were my companions upon waking this morning. I suppose the crash of just getting home from two weeks of vacation contributed to the feeling as well. Discouragement. A vague notion that the world is dismal and dreary. It has also been raining all day. I love a good pathetic fallacy when it suits my mood.

Five months of living in a coronavirus world feels very long. I find myself often reflecting on bygone days of not having to wear masks, exchanging friendly smiles with strangers as we pass on the sidewalk or in the grocery store, and going to church every weekend. That last one, especially, feels like a treasure lost. How I miss gathering with other believers in worship and hearing the Word.

I don’t like what Covid has done to our world. I am aghast at, and grieved by, the fear that has gripped our nation and our world. Millions of people are writhing helplessly in its clutches, clinging desperately to their health and possessions. And who can blame them? For so many people, physical health and material things are both the means and the end of their hope, happiness, and purpose for living.

Coronavirus should not be a political issue. But it is. It has the potential to be divisive at the base level of society — in our own homes and families. I perceive, however vaguely, the affect it has on groups of friends, on governments, on organizations and institutions. Church leadership are beset with the cumbersome responsibility of deciding how to shepherd their flocks. Scripture commands believers to submit to governing authorities, that our peaceable way of life would be a testimony of Christ (see Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17). But we’re also commanded not to forsake the gathering of believers; nor to fear man over God (see Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 5:26-29, and 2 Timothy 1:7). Needless to say, the “right” answer seems very difficult to extrapolate at this time.

Stay with me. There’s light at the end of this tunnel.

While in the vortex of too many thoughts and several stirring emotions this morning, I turned on my playlist. The first two songs were well-known favourites of recent months. They’ve often ministered to me, and today again certain lines jumped out to confront my despairing frame of mind:

“Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness…”

Followed by:

“All my life You have been faithful;
All my life You have been so, so good…”

And then I was very quickly humbled as I pondered the reality of these words.
Friends, the coronavirus pandemic has not changed God.
His power has not been reduced. His light has not lost its radiance. His truth is not rendered a lie. All that has ever been true of Him in millenia past is true of Him still.

There is no telling exactly how long we will be required to wear masks and keep our distance from other people. God knows. But I find that it is vitally important for me to be mindful that God is still sovereign. However it may seem that covid has the world in its grip, nonetheless covid is subject to a good God. Charles Spurgeon said:
“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”

The Light still shines in the darkness. And the darkness does not comprehend it.

• Hyperlinks provided in the text.
• “Way Maker” by Leeland.
• “Goodness of God” by Jenn Johnson.
• Also check out John 1:4-5.