“for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This verse is found in the Book of Nehemiah Chapter 8. The people are gathered at the Water Gate listening to Ezra the scribe read from the Torah. They are weeping because they miss what was. The splendid temple which Solomon built has been destroyed. A new temple now stands in its place and they are back from exile, but so much of what they had, has been lost. They hear stories of their heritage which were lost to them when they were in captivity by the Babylonians. These tears are tears of sadness mixed with joy for what they have regained.

We too are saddened by the effects of the Covid 19 on our livelihoods and our way of life. We are unsure of the next steps to take for fear of the virus attacking ourselves or our families. We have lost much of our gathering as families and friends and we have lost our ability to move at will. In order to move, it has to be a calculated decision with thought given to when to move and where to move. For example, we may avoid crowds at the beach if we go early in the morning rather than one o'clock in the afternoon.

This is a new normal for us and hence why it is taking some time to make the adjustments. We are called upon to adapt to the conditions in which we live. "What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?"

The Joy of the Lord is your strength. Our strength comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtcBURtm5Aw

God makes all things beautiful in His time. Don't give up, stand in the strength of the Lord.

Be encouraged, Be strong, Be safe!!