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As I was preparing this devotional, I couldn't find the right words. I knew what I wanted to say, but it gets so hard to articulate things without sounding insensitive. Also, it is not my goal to preach, but to be here as a light.
Instead, I am going to share a few different verses that comforted me in the past few months. I didn't do any theology or background research on the verses. I am just taking them at their face value (which is something that I've learned not to do in seminary), but it's a weird time, and that is what I feel called to do today, so that's what I am going to do.
So I looked back at my journal at verses that I have been writing down since March and picked out some that have helped me stay connected to God. I am going to share seven of them:
1. Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
This verse has been a great reminder that God is just so much bigger. He is so much bigger than COVID, and he is so much bigger than our flesh desires or areas of sin.
2. Deuteronomy 31:8
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
This verse reminds me that God will never leave me, He is present in every area of my life, He is aware, and He hears me. Although I find it hard not to be afraid or just fearful of everything that is going on, this reminder takes my heart from a posture of fear to a posture of trust and peace.
3. John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Similar to the verse in Deuteronomy, it gives me peace by checking where my heart is. Is it caught up in the world? Or is it focused on Jesus? When it's focused on Jesus, then it is easier to feel his peace.
4. Ecclesiastes. 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
I love the end of this verse, "that no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Like God, our creator created the stars and the moon and us, out of beauty. And even though our world may not look beautiful right now, this verse gives me hope of our eternal future that is to come.
5. Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go."
This verse has truly impacted me because instead of just telling me not to be afraid, it gives me guidance on what to do. Be strong and courageous, it says, which doesn't mean to sweep our fears, concerns, and pain under the rug, but to face it. We can face it boldly because we have a God who is with us at all times.
6. Mark 4:39
"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm."
It feels like we're in a storm right now—a bad storm. But Jesus, who calmed the storm on the sea, is still at work calming the storms in our country and our hearts.
7. Psalm 55:16-18, 22
"As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."
This makes me thankful. Thankful that I don't have to hold everything in and deal with it myself. This psalm is reassurance that when we take our struggles to God, and He hears them. He will hold us through whatever trials we are facing.
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