“In you, O Lord have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness….Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.”
(Psalm 31:1, 5)
Take a Moment to Ponder
It is unfortunate but necessary at times for certain things to happen for us to recognize that we are nothing before God. Things that shake us and cause us to ponder. We are enduring such times now as we manoeuvre COVID 19, and as humans, we are afraid, concerned and anxious. Let us be encouraged by the words of the Psalmist as he addresses God, and acknowledging, “My times are in your hand..” We need to acknowledge that it is God who is in control and God holds us in His hands. In making the acknowledgement from the beginning that God is his refuge, the psalmist expects certain things from God. He expects deliverance in God’s righteousness; he expects God to listen to him and quickly deliver him; he expects God to lead him and guide him and take him out of trouble.
What are our expectations of God, and are they realistic and fair expectations? Can we truly have expectations of God if we do not have a relationship with Him? If we have not taken refuge in God, can we truly look to Him for help? I believe that whatever the nature of our relationship with God, God will always be there to help us. It would be better if we found ourselves in the position where we acknowledged that God is present and God is the one who holds us in His hands. It would be good if we acknowledged that God provides the safety net that we fall into so many times. If we can truly say, like the psalmist, that we have taken refuge in the Lord, then our expectations may not be too farfetched.
It is during times of crises that we truly see the awesome power of God. It is during times of crises that we hear that calming voice of God telling us, “Do not be afraid.” I believe that all of us at this time would definitely love to hear those words, and be given the reassurance that during these turbulent times of COVID 19 that things will be ok. It is at times like these that we need to draw closer to God. It is in times like these that we need to examine the nature of our relationship with God. Make no mistake, God is ALWAYS there for us regardless, but it would be better if we acknowledged God and what God continues to do for us. We must always remember that we are in God’s hands. We must remember that God holds us in His hands providing comfort and protection.
Practical Action
We need to become more conscious of where we stand with God. We must be able to recognize that we have taken refuge in God and God holds us in His hands. We should also find ourselves encouraging others to do the same.
A Moment in Prayer
Gracious God, whom truly to know you is everlasting life, help us to recognize and acknowledge we are in your hands. We pray that as a nation and as your world enduring challenging times, help us to rely on you and feel your presence close to us always; continue to hold us in your hands so that we feel comforted and protected. Continue to walk with us and guide us as we do your will. Amen.
Contributed by:
Very Rev. Fr. Richard A. Tucker
