Quiet Watersনমুনা

… For you are with me (Psalm 23:4b)

Hope during anxiety 

What do we do when we face the threat of death, even from COVID-19? What did I do in 2009 when the radiologist mistakenly concluded I had cancer? I panicked, more so as we were then nursing a friend with the same kind of advanced cancer. The pain, the agony! Yes, as a preacher, I have passionately challenged people not to fear. “When you pass through fire...” 

You may currently not feel threatened by the pandemic. But what if someone close to you falls ill? That was my recent experience when a former colleague succumbed to the virus. 

Jesus made Himself nothing—took on human nature and became obedient to death (Philippians 2:6-8). Being fully man, he experienced hunger (Mark 11:12), was emotional (John 11:35), was tired (John 4:6), etc. Read Matthew 26:36-46. Reflecting on this passage:

• What situation was Jesus facing? How did he feel about it?
• How did He deal with the weight of the matter at hand? (vs. 38, 39, 42-43)?
• What was the focus of His prayer (vs. 39, 42 & 44)?

Jesus was indeed weighed down by His impending death. He who knew no sin was soon to carry upon Himself the sins of the world. We too acknowledge our fears and anxiety arising from the current pandemic and lockdown. 

As a family, how can we support one another to overcome anxiety and fear? How can we extend this support to friends and relatives? How can we use our family resources and technology—phones, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.—to stand with one another? Our God is always there to hear us when we cry to Him individually and as a WhatsApp or Zoom group. Our Lord, our Shepherd is with us.

Family activity - You will need access to YouTube, if possible.

I am a child of God. God cares about me.

These are very important truths that bring us comfort in difficult times.

As a family, stand in a circle and choose someone to start. The first person turns to the person on their right and says, ‘You are a child of God, God cares for you’. That person then turns to the person on their right and says the same words. Go around the circle until everyone has had these words spoken to them. When you reach the beginner, go back around the circle to the left.

Whenever your family is feeling anxious and fearful about the future, gather together in a circle and repeat this process of speaking truth to each other.

Respond in worship: Sing, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow." You can find it on YouTube, by on the Gaither Music TV channel.