Encouragements for our troubled times No. 31
COVID-19 Series | Date: 22 October 2020
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly letter. If you have news which you would be happy to share with the fellowship or request for prayer, then please let us know.
A message from our Pastor
Psalm 121:1-2
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills – From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
As we enter into new Covid restrictions with the looming threat of a full lockdown just around the corner, we are all wondering when this will all come to an end. Will Covid run its course, will we soon have a vaccine, or will we have to get used to living with Covid? We are all becoming weary with the restrictions and precautions we have to take and just want things to get back to normal. With all these frustrations and fears, who can we turn to, who can help us?
This was the question that troubled the Psalmist. In his time of trouble, he lifted up his eyes to the hills. He no longer had any hope in man or in his own abilities to solve the problem; so, he lifted up his eyes, hoping help would come charging over the horizon to his aid. But who would come, who could help? The answer suddenly comes to him and breaks through all his despondency; “my help comes from the Lord.” You can almost feel the anxiety and despair evaporating as faith takes hold of him and he realises that the Lord, who can do all things and with whom nothing is impossible, is the one who will help him. And note, there is no doubt in the Psalmist’s mind that the Lord will help; he says “my help comes from the Lord”, no if’s or maybe’s. How can he be so sure? He is absolutely certain because he is one of God’s children and under the constant loving care and protection of his Lord and Saviour; God Himself dwelling in him, to bless and keep him. And it is the same Lord who is our Heavenly Father and will always come to our aid. Therefore, we can be as certain as the Psalmist that in our hour of need that our help will come from our Lord.
But there is another reason why the Psalmist, realising that the Lord is his help, loses all his fears; it’s because the Lord is none other than the creator of heaven and earth. It was his almighty, sovereign power that made all things that now exist from nothing. And He who made it sustains and keeps it by the same power until the day when He will wind it up and bring it to an end. It is all in His Almighty hands and He is working His perfect, purposes out for His people so that all things will work for our good. Therefore, what problem can be too big for Him to solve, what problem too difficult, what situation can be too complex for Him to control? None! We just need to trust in Him and leave all things in His mighty hands.
‘As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.’ 2 Samuel 22:31