Thought for the day - Monday 15 June

Thought for the Day – Monday 15^th June

‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.’ (Psalm 46: 1-3)

It is good to remind ourselves of these words of the Psalmist. Good to be reminded that God is our refuge and our strength and that he is ever-present. Good to never forget that we should not fear no matter what we are facing because he has us in his loving care and protection.

Why is it good to be reminded of this at this time?

Well, as our ‘Lockdown’ is beginning to be eased, that easing seems to be bringing with it new fears. While way back in March we were worried about how we would cope with having to stay indoors for such a long time, now having coped with that ordeal it seems we are fearing our return to the big wide world and how we will cope out there and how we will keep safe out there among folk again. With each subsequent measure of easing, the feelings of trepidation are rising within so many of us and we find ourselves wondering how we can quell those feelings and be courageous enough to once more enter the world beyond our doors.

These words of the Psalmist do offer us reassurance and should help to give us the strength to move outward into the world but I think the words we find at verse 10 of the Psalm help us to know even better how to quell those feelings of fear and trepidation inside us, for there God says:

‘Be still, and know that I am God.’

We need to calm our racing minds, suppress those rising fears and just take time to be still. In that stillness we can then listen for God within us and around us and in that listening we will know that he is God, we will know his presence, we will know he is our refuge, we will know he is our strength. 

So do not fear when the time comes to move once more outwards into the world rather just take time to be still and let the stillness quell your fears. Perhaps if feeling fearful you could even sing quietly to yourself hymn 755 which reminds us of this Psalm:

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.

I am the Lord who saves and heals.

I am the Lord who saves and heals.

I am the Lord who saves and heals.

In you, Lord God, I put my trust.

In you, Lord God, I put my trust.
In you, Lord God, I put my trust.

Prayer

Loving Lord,

Take from us the tensions that are making your peace impossible, take from us those fears which are preventing us from venturing onwards, take from us the worries which are blinding us to you, take from us the distress which hides your joy. Help us to relax, to be still and to know we are in your loving care and protection, always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen