Category: Chapel Reflections

Psalm 46:10 says, “be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” This scripture is so applicable to our present situation.

It has not escaped my attention that this year the Lenten season coincides with the COVID-19 outbreak. Both occasions call for prayer and sacrifice. During this pandemic and even throughout the Lenten season, we’ve had to strip down to the bare bones and take a no nonsense approach to life.

Through it all, we’ve learned to embrace new ways and new things that keep us safe and help us to survive. We’ve had to be still, relying on our faith to sustain us. And we’ve had to wait.

We don’t know how long it will take for this pandemic to run its course. But we have a certain confidence that God is on our side.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God speaks through the prophet: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God loves us and has our best interest at heart. Believers make no one mistake about this. So, we stand on God’s word today. We continue to trust God‘s eternal plan. And we acknowledge God’s sovereignty.

Let’s continue to come together in a virtual environment to support one another. In doing so, we will help each other endure until we get to the other side of this pandemic. While we shelter in place, we will be still and affirm that God is in control.

Reflection on Psalm 36:7, 9 How precious is your unfailing love, oh God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. … For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

I’ve heard people say that when they were younger they needed a night light because they were afraid of the dark. You see, their immature imaginations envisioned all kinds of goblins and scary creatures lying in wait in the shadows. They were afraid that harm would come to them if they were not able to see what was behind and under the objects in their rooms.

Some adults still have such fears. They want to be able to see all the answers. They believe that the more light shed on a situation, the less there will be lurking in the shadows to deceive them and to disturb their peace. What they fail to acknowledge is that artificial, man-made light can be deceptive. Even after tons of details have been dragged to the surface, the truth still remains unclear.

Our text suggests that perhaps, such people are looking at matters with the wrong headlamp. The Psalmist tells us that God is the light by which we should see. When God sheds light on a situation, the fogginess is washed away and we are able to discern that which is invisible to the human eye. God is the fountain of life. The light of God can help us see around and through the stuff that creeps in the corners, and there is no need to be afraid.

When we discern life through the light that God provides, we are able to see that, as long as God loves us, we have nothing to worry about. God’s eternal light will enable us to look at our situations through the illumination of time. And when we do so, we will see clearly that our God is in control. We will be able to detect a pathway toward spiritual shelter and find peace and protection beneath the shadow of God’s wings.

Scripture Focus

Psalm 139:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— ¹²  but even in darkness,  I cannot hide from you. To you, the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

Reflection on Scripture

Last week in Sunday school, we discussed the nature of light and dark. It came out in our discussion that scientists have discovered that what we perceive as darkness actually contains tiny particles called neutrinos, which are slivers of light that pass through the entire universe. The presence of neutrinos has been detected through experiments using large pools of water or oil. As neutrinos interact with electrons contained in the water or oil molecules, they give off flashes of light.

I say WOW to scientific revelations! But before scientists “discovered“ light in the darkness, the scripture had addressed this phenomenon in more than a few places. For example, in Psalm 139:11-12 a writer observes that darkness cannot hide from God. The night shines as the day. To God, both darkness and light are alike. Moreover, the gospels assure us that darkness cannot overcome the light (John 1:5). God can find us, even in the dark!

Prayer Response

Eternal God, thank you for your presence everywhere and in everything. I rest assured in knowing that, no matter what I’m going through, you will find me. You will embrace me with your light that cannot be overcome, even in my darkest hour. Thank you, Lord. Amen.