Saturday, May 16, 2020

The sadness of this time

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21)

Thoughts: Reality tells us the above is true.  It sounds pretty pessimistic and negative, but it is really true.  It is an illusion to say that we will not grow old or leave this world behind.  It is an illusion to think that we can hold onto our stuff forever.  Yet, this is the illusion that many have.  It is a sentimentality that God gives but He never takes away.  But this is not the end of the story.
     The Covid 19 Virus has been horrible.  Over 4.6 million people have contracted the disease (over 1.3 million in the US) with over 311,000 deaths world wide.  It has crashed an economy so that more people are unemployed now than were unemployed in the Great Depression.  We are also approaching exceeding that rate of unemployment, though things are opening back up.  It has isolated the already lonely and separated families.  Instead of uniting us to fight a common enemy, it has stressed us out and people are picking at each others' viewpoints.  But that is not the end of the story.
     The end of the story is God wins.  Job does not tell the end- even for his own life.  He could have said, "The Lord gives and takes away but will give in the end."  This is why Christians can always be optimistic- we know who wins, and it is not the coronavirus.  But Job is right- whether He gives or takes, God's name is to be praised.  He is our Maker but He is more than that.  God is by definition the life giver, taker, and giver again.  Think of Jesus- who came to earth (Christmas), who died on earth (Good Friday) but who lives forever (Easter+).  We are naked when we are born and when we die- but that is not the end of the story- one day we will all be clothed from on high.  May God be praised as we go through the phases of life-death-rebirth.  Let us trust Him throughout.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in your loving hand int he trials and changes of life.  

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