Anneke Swanepoel is a a member of our church and also a medical doctor in the community of Robertson & Montagu in the Western Cape. She wrote this blog that I would love to share with you. She wrote it on the 1st morning of our Lockdown. May you be blessed
This morning, on the first day of our 21 day lockdown, I woke up to a deafening silence. No cars in the streets, no kids playing outside, and if anyone went into town today they would probably testify of its eery quietness. Major cities around the world has been turned into ghost towns as an effect of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, in the media the exact opposite is happening! Every day we are bombarded with stats, updates and theories of how to keep safe. Many might feel like they have an internal storm of fear and worry raging as well.
This morning I was reminded of the story in Exodus 14, of the Israelites escape from Egypt. As they were camping in the wilderness they saw Pharaoh and his armies drawing near, and we are told that “they feared greatly”. This is a natural response to any kind of threat! But what is the advice that Moses gives them?
Exo 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent”
A similar story occurs in Psalm 46 where David describes a frightening picture of mountains trembling and waters roaring (just go read Psalm 46 for yourself – David’s description is a lot more eloquent than mine). And yet he tells us the following:
Ps 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
AND
Ps 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Throughout scripture we are given countless promises and encouragements for times of tribulation. But we are also given the best example of how to act! In a few places in the gospels we are told what Jesus did in tough times:
Mark 1:35 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
AND
Luke 5:16 “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
The words desolate places differ depending on the translation you are reading. Other translations include solitary, secluded, wilderness – and my personal favourite – isolated! For Jesus it was of the utmost importance to self-isolate in order to become silent and pray.
May we all use this gift of isolation to quiet our hearts and minds from the fear and panic that is being spread, and may we use this time to pray. Pray for our country, for families and friends, for people whose lives have been changed by COVID 19. Pray for public servants – the doctors, nurses, police and military, who are still working hard to keep us safe. And pray that God may use this time of isolation to turn hearts back to Him.
Anneke Swanepoel
Comments