When downcast, draw close

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my saviour and my God.” Psalm 42:11

Over the last few months we have been given a unique opportunity – to take a break and to consider our lives with a whole new perspective. Those of us who are over 70 and those who are considered to be especially at risk have been told to keep away from others and to expect others to help them. This has brought about a profound change in some people. Confident and outgoing people have become concerned and isolated. People who knew how to cope with the day to day events of their lives have been challenged with new ways and bombarded with changing advice and instructions.

Is it easy for those who are still at work or who can get out to do what they want, to forget the impact on the individuals who are left behind. Life is an adventure at whatever stage we are, and some of the enjoyment of that adventure lies in being able to have experiences outside of ourselves. We like to see new things and hear new stories and to mix with our fellow human beings

So, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? This can be because we are challenged beyond our ability to understand and cope. We need help and reassurance from an outside source. We also find the constant bombarding of news reports which always seem to be negative and violent, a further pressure on our already weary minds. What can we do about it?

“Put your hope in God,” That’s easy to say but not so easy to do. However, I was brought up to make decisions in a positive way. To choose the right way – to remember my past experiences of God and how he helped me then and to ask him to do it again. God is the constant in this pandemic, he knows and understands our needs and will be there to help us – we only have to ask.

But how do we ask? That’s something for us all to discover – Try just simply finding a quiet place and waiting on God. Stop listening to things which are unhelpful for you and concentrate on those which bless you. Try music, or art, or conversations with friends on the phone, through social media or Zoom or any other means which helps you.

And the result? “For I will yet praise him, my saviour and my God.”

Consider the flowers of the field and Know that God has clothed them and will clothe you too with love and peace and joy. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. He’s right there – Why not invite him in?