Pandemic Preaching - When Troubles Come My Way
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 26:31-33
If I am not mistaken, there is no other passage in Scripture that comes closer than the one we just read above, to what we are experiencing now, yes at this pandemic time.
Scattered & Isolated
We have all been scattered, each to his or her own home. Of course some cannot stay still and just have to go out, for whatever reasons they may have. But for the most part, we are staying put at home, voluntarily or being forced to depending on where we are in the world.
Troubled Fallen World
And because we live in this fallen world, it will indeed be true, in this world we will have trouble. It is not if, but when.
It doesn't matter who we are, what we do, what we've done, if we've been mostly naughty or mostly nice, believing in God or not, spiritual or not, we will all have trouble in this life.
Nothing We Can Do To Escape It
It may not even be due to our own fault or own doing. So we shouldn't be walking around beating ourselves up or feeling guilty that such bad things are happening to us. Now even if we have something to do with the trouble we are in, the Lord is not unaware of what we are going through.
In fact, He not only knows about it, but He allowed it. With the same plans He always have for each one of us -- to prosper us and not to harm us.
And so what ever trouble we are going through right now, it too shall pass, like this pandemic and it will be like others we have already experienced and hurdled through in the past.
Why Does God Allow This?
So we might be tempted to ask God, why? And it is a fair question. Jesus while in the Garden of Gethsemane, agonized through what He was going through and what He will still have to go through, but He knew that Our Father in heaven knows and thus His prayer was not 'why Lord' but one of a child speaking to his father,
“(Abba) Father, if it is possible, don’t let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.”
His Will Not Ours
Yes in the end, we should go through this life, with all its sufferings, its trials, its troubles and the good times as well, with this same mindset as Our Lord and Savior -- 'Yet not my will, but Yours.'
Let God's Word give us hope. Let His Spirit guide us. Let His love surround and envelop us and keep our joy. And let the knowledge that He knows what we are going through and that He will not allow anything come our way that we cannot overcome to keep our peace.
Shalom.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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." John 14:25-27
"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” Jesus of Nazareth
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 26:31-33
If I am not mistaken, there is no other passage in Scripture that comes closer than the one we just read above, to what we are experiencing now, yes at this pandemic time.
Scattered & Isolated
We have all been scattered, each to his or her own home. Of course some cannot stay still and just have to go out, for whatever reasons they may have. But for the most part, we are staying put at home, voluntarily or being forced to depending on where we are in the world.
Troubled Fallen World
And because we live in this fallen world, it will indeed be true, in this world we will have trouble. It is not if, but when.
It doesn't matter who we are, what we do, what we've done, if we've been mostly naughty or mostly nice, believing in God or not, spiritual or not, we will all have trouble in this life.
Nothing We Can Do To Escape It
It may not even be due to our own fault or own doing. So we shouldn't be walking around beating ourselves up or feeling guilty that such bad things are happening to us. Now even if we have something to do with the trouble we are in, the Lord is not unaware of what we are going through.
In fact, He not only knows about it, but He allowed it. With the same plans He always have for each one of us -- to prosper us and not to harm us.
And so what ever trouble we are going through right now, it too shall pass, like this pandemic and it will be like others we have already experienced and hurdled through in the past.
Why Does God Allow This?
So we might be tempted to ask God, why? And it is a fair question. Jesus while in the Garden of Gethsemane, agonized through what He was going through and what He will still have to go through, but He knew that Our Father in heaven knows and thus His prayer was not 'why Lord' but one of a child speaking to his father,
“(Abba) Father, if it is possible, don’t let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.”
His Will Not Ours
Yes in the end, we should go through this life, with all its sufferings, its trials, its troubles and the good times as well, with this same mindset as Our Lord and Savior -- 'Yet not my will, but Yours.'
Let God's Word give us hope. Let His Spirit guide us. Let His love surround and envelop us and keep our joy. And let the knowledge that He knows what we are going through and that He will not allow anything come our way that we cannot overcome to keep our peace.
Shalom.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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." John 14:25-27
"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” Jesus of Nazareth
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