Last week, we heard of the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. She was the longest-serving monarch of the United Kingdom having reigned for 70 years. This week, these devotionals will be reflections on what we can learn from loss.
“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” (Psalms 39:7)
‘But now’, at this time of loss, God wants us to remember and to refocus on Him. Are we, at this time, reaffirming “My hope is in you”? Loss has a powerful ability to cause us to remember God and our need for Him. Ecclesiastes encourages us to ‘remember Him’ before it’s too late:
‘Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.’ (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7)
We’ve been passing through challenging days: Brexit, Covid, War and now the death of our Queen. Mark Eastman in BBC news wrote:
‘In bewildering days like these, the United Kingdom would instinctively look to its Queen for reassurance. But this time, with the nation facing hard economic challenges amid constitutional and political upheaval there is no calming presence from her majesty. The new king and new prime minister, both only days into their roles, must find a way to guide an unsettled kingdom through troubling times… the immediate challenge for King Charles is to do what his mother was so good at - reassuring an anxious nation in times of change.'
What will we do ‘at such a time as this? Where and to whom will we look for hope and security? The Psalmist quotes those who remember God as saying:
‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.’ (Psalm 46:1-2)
RESPONSE
How can we express our trust in God at this time? Surely worship and prayer are a basic way of expressing our trust and a guaranteed way of finding peace in the storms of our lives. The book of Philippians encourages us:
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:6-7)
TOGETHER IN SEPTEMBER
During September 2022, at CCP, we are having 'Together' meetings instead of our usual Community Groups. You are very welcome to attend these gatherings.
Please come to the church building at 7:30 pm on Wednesday evenings - refreshments and a meal will be available.
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