Thought for the Dsy - Saturday 7 November

Thought for the Day – Saturday 7th November ‘….even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.’ (Matthew 10: 30) ‘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.’ (Deuteronomy 31: 8) It was wonderful yesterday afternoon to take time to share with my colleagues in a virtual Communion Service. The moderator had organised this service for us all recognising that many of us might be feeling a certain weariness due to the situation we all find ourselves in amidst this Covid-19 pandemic. Recognising too that some of the weariness we felt may partly be caused by us not being able to fulfil our calling in the ways we normally do. I have to say it was reassuring when we were placed in little Zoom break out groups to talk together for a few minutes during the service to hear others speak of the cause of their weariness and realise that actually they were feeling very much the same as you and so it was affirming to know you were not alone in your weariness. The Moderator chose as his text Isaiah 40: 27-31 where it speaks of even the young growing tired and weary, yet by putting our hope in the Lord and letting him renew our strength then we would once more soar as on eagle’s wings, run and not be weary, walk and not faint! How uplifting a message that was to hear! Our service was closed by listening to the words of the hymn ‘He will hold me fast’ by Keith and Kristyn Getty, the chorus of which says this: He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast. What a reassuring message to hear in the midst of weariness! He who numbers the very hairs of our head will not fail to notice us in any times of need, he will never leave us or forsake us, so we must not be discouraged or fearful because he loves us so much he will hold us fast. Our disappointments are his disappointments, our worries are his worries, our anxiety his anxiety, our weariness his weariness yet we need not fear for he will hold us fast in the midst of all we are facing day in or day out or in the midst of a global pandemic. So, if you are tired and weary at any time, put your hope in God and let him hold you fast, let him renew your strength until you feel once more that you can soar on eagles’ wings. Prayer God of life, God of hope, God of all, hold us fast and lift us up on your love like eagle's wings. Sustain us, guide us, heal us and free us from all that makes us weary and causes us concern. Help us to be still and place our hope in you our faithful Lord and Saviour. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.