With the global pandemic raging and worse predicted, we are seeing more and more discussions dealing with sickness, fear, and death. These come from secular, religious, and Bible-based sources, and all appropriately originate from the hearts of loving and caring people.
The times are humbling for us all. Loss of freedoms, social contacts, employment, and our health to a virus we can’t see reveals how powerless we truly are. Despite what politicians and the powerful would have us believe, we are not masters of our world – not even close. And the world, especially now, rages. At best, it rages apart from us; at worst, it may rage against us.
But instead of the despair this seems to imply, we Christians depend and cling to what the world sees as foolishness,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Instead of despair, we give thanks to be under the mercy and love of our Creator. And we are humbled, in the very best way, at the Grace and Love that proceed through our Lord and Savior Jesus.
As we settle to pray to God for His mercy and healing in these troubled times, it is important to begin from a place of humility and praise.
Peter and James’ advice on humility is remarkably similar and relevant for our times:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:6-9)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:7-10)
Humility leads directly to praise as we realize and become thankful to be dependent upon God’s power and grace. Praise is not emotion-driven, but much deeper, rising from a faithful awareness of our true dependence and grace-given righteousness before God.
So therefore David reminds us to praise God always, within hearing of the afflicted:
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-4)
And in dark times, keep praising with hope:
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5)
Finally, he hints at a cyclical connection between more praise and more hope:
As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more. (Psalm 71:14)
So as we pray for healing and help in these difficult days, proceed from a place of humility and praise before the Lord.
Amen.
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Agree or disagree? I’d be interested in hearing what you think – and especially if you have additions or corrections to my work – if I’m wrong, please tell me!
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