29/04/2020
Hi - Iain here. Here are a few of my recent thoughts. Bless you :)
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)
A few times recently people have said something along the lines of, “Time is the one thing we all have a lot of at the moment” or, “in this quiet lockdown period”. This is not my experience.
Let me explain. My wife is in the last few weeks of her counselling degree and she has essays and a research project to complete. I'm employed full time working from home as an office manager for a local engineering firm. We have three children between 8 and 14 who we're attempting to home school. Whether we're being successful I'm not sure, but schools are sending out various material for them to work through.
I heard someone say, “But we're all in the same boat”. I don't think this is right. I believe we're all in the same storm, but we're in very different boats. We're all facing huge individual and corporate challenges, but they are different challenges.
- Some are experiencing tremendous loneliness and isolation due to social distancing and perhaps the presence of an underlying health condition.
- Quite a number are experiencing financial hardship having being laid off or furloughed. About a quarter of the economy has had to stop in order to save lives.
- Others are experiencing grief at the loss of a loved one, and often have to go through this alone, further compounding their pain.
- Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professional are facing the day to day challenges of struggling with limited protective equipment and trying to save lives whilst staying healthy themselves.
Which boat are you in during this storm?
What challenges are you facing?
How are you coping?
Have you been able to find God and experience his grace during this time?
And how could you encourage others in their situation?
Jesus is in the boat with us during the storm. His hands of love will enfold us as we learn to rest in him. And whatever our experience is, we can find God's grace for ourselves, and show his love and grace to others.
‘Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.’ (1 Peter 4:8)
