2021 Daily Devotion - Day 463
We have come to the end of our daily devotionals at this time. Our prayer is that they have helped you during the challenges we have faced in dealing with COVID-19. With life starting to return to some of the old normal, I thought it might be good, in this last devotional, to spend a little time examining what this period can mean for our lives. What are some of the lessons learned?
We have learned many lessons. We have learned that too often in the past, we have taken many things for granted. We have seen the value of Christian Community. We have found ways to be together which was vital. We were able to spend more time with our families, especially our children, which was a blessing. And as we did, we were able to teach them more about the need to be patient and what “delayed gratification” looks like. We were reminded, if we needed to be reminded, that life can be very difficult sometimes. But we also found greater strength through more prayer and Bible reading. We learned the tremendous value in having a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. But most of all, we were reminded God is faithful and He keeps His promises. He saw us through these times and never forgot us.
I am reminded of when the Children of Israel crossed over into the Promised Land. God told Joshua that when they did, they were to have the leaders of the various tribes each take a stone from the river and build an altar on the other side. And then God told them why He wanted them to do this.
Joshua 4:21-24 RSV
And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty; that you may fear (respect) the Lord your God forever.”
Perhaps we should look at this period of The Pandemic in the same way. In the years ahead, we too can say God was faithful and led us through. He did not abandon us, but kept His promises.
When difficult and tough times come into our lives, we can stop and reflect that if God can bring me through the worst pandemic in a hundred years, He can and will bring me through whatever else I am dealing with now. And so, when your children’s children ask you about this period of your life, point them to the God of faithfulness who saw us through.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for keeping Your promise to never leave or forsake us during this period of time in our lives. Allow this past year and several months to serve as a constant reminder that You will not forget us, even in the most arduous times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor at Mount of Olives Church, Mission Viejo, CA
I am reminded of when the Children of Israel crossed over into the Promised Land. God told Joshua that when they did, they were to have the leaders of the various tribes each take a stone from the river and build an altar on the other side. And then God told them why He wanted them to do this.
Joshua 4:21-24 RSV
And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty; that you may fear (respect) the Lord your God forever.”
Perhaps we should look at this period of The Pandemic in the same way. In the years ahead, we too can say God was faithful and led us through. He did not abandon us, but kept His promises.
When difficult and tough times come into our lives, we can stop and reflect that if God can bring me through the worst pandemic in a hundred years, He can and will bring me through whatever else I am dealing with now. And so, when your children’s children ask you about this period of your life, point them to the God of faithfulness who saw us through.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for keeping Your promise to never leave or forsake us during this period of time in our lives. Allow this past year and several months to serve as a constant reminder that You will not forget us, even in the most arduous times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor at Mount of Olives Church, Mission Viejo, CA
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