I miss people.
I miss worshiping with hundreds of people.
I miss hugging people.
I’ve been self-quarantined for one month as of today.
There has been a mixture of grief, hopelessness and uncertainty in this season of isolation for all of us. In the midst of a roller coaster of emotions and thoughts about the future – there is also some excitement that has begun to bubble up in me.
I think the writer of Psalm 42 had a similar collision of emotions.
Psalm 42:1-6 (NIV)
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
There have been a small chorus of mockers in this season who are saying, “Where is your God?” I don’t worry too much about those who are saying that our God is asleep. I know that God works all things together for the good for those who are called according to His purpose. He is doing beautiful things in us in this season. I am going deeper and growing significantly during these days. God still loves us and is caring for us.
Our hope is not in government leadership, good social distancing or stimulus checks in the mail. My hope is in God, and I will choose to praise Him in this season as my King. I lift my eyes up to heaven and believe that Jesus will empower us to lead through this season not just get through it. I believe that as I grow deeper with Jesus, He will give me love for my family in new ways.
When and where are you meeting with God these days?
There is a hunger that is growing in me to experience more of God. I want to go deeper with God in this season. Instead of just racing through this season and going faster. I want my soul to go deeper with Jesus.
The writer of Psalm 42 asks the question, “When can I go and meet with God?”
What does it look like for you to meet with God in this season? As many of you are trying to figure out how to work from home, homeschool kids who are suddenly with you around the clock, and live with the lack of quiet in your home, meeting with God will require creativity and sacrifice. It may mean getting up earlier or staying up later. Taking walks, spending time in the backyard or even locking yourself in the garage may be places you can re-purpose for time with God.
The Psalmist in Psalm 42 goes on to lament
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and
6 my God…
There is a grief and loss of meeting together to worship with others that comes out in verse 4. I can really relate to missing the assembling together with the “gathered church” on Sunday mornings. I miss hearing my passionate friends shout out their praise in the Dome. Worshiping with YouTube is just not the same.
While I miss gathering as the “church,” I will still gather with the church in my home, at my work, and through the screens on Zoom and FaceTime. Just because we aren’t gathered physically together, doesn’t mean the church is not meeting- it’s just meeting in hundreds of places across our city.
My prayer is that our souls be strengthened in the hope that Jesus gives today!
If you missed Easter Sunday’s message from Mark 4 Jesus calms the storm, click here to listen to the podcast or watch the video.
Join us this Sunday for our livestream service at 10:30am on our YouTube channel or our Facebook page.
