Comforting counsel for Covid-19 crisis
David's distress
“In my distress, when I seemed surrounded, I called upon the Lord and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry for help came before Him, into His very ears.”
Psalms 18, verse 6
David, the man who wrote these words was going through a very tough time in his life. He has had a serious run in with his boss – the King, and was on the run and facing certain death by an angry mob. Frightened out of his wits David is hiding in a cave. Feeling that everything is just getting too much for him in his distress he cries out to God.
Does that ring a bell with you too? The feelings of fear, confusion, helplessness and distress that the Covid-19 pandemic is causing were emotions the writer of these words, David, was also experiencing.
In the current situation facing not just this country but the world, I suggest that we take a leaf out of David’s book.
How did he get comfort? What did he do when feeling swamped? And how does he face the mess that he finds himself in?
Let me briefly try to answer these questions. I have to tell you that as I am typing these words and investigating this for myself I can feel a sense of peace coming to me and I hope that maybe something I write may help you too.
David recognises that the situation is bigger and more complex than he can deal with on his own so he turns to God for help. So why don’t you try talking to God in your distress too. Tell Him how you are feeling. Let Him know your fears and worries.
He starts looking outward – not at the problems – but to God and reminding himself of what God has already done to help him and others in times past. If you read the earlier verses in this chapter you will discover that David is reminded about the following qualities of God. David has personal experience of each quality listed. Here’s what I picked out:
My rock: foundation of stability
My fortress: a place of high refuge
My deliverer: a saviour in the evil day
My rock: his strong defence
My shield: a piece of armour for protection
My stronghold: How God is able to help him.
All of these are military metaphors so they really resonated with David who was a military man and each one, I think you will agree, projects the strength of God. How comforting that must have been to David in his vulnerable and frightened state.
If you are a believer in God why not do as David has done and start listing all the ways and times that God has been there for you in the past. If you are yet to believe why not SMS, talk with or email someone who does believe and ask them why they believe. It might just start you thinking about the role God can play in your life during this crisis.
Finally, what difference did this exercise make to David? Does it change his circumstances? No. BUT what it does do is make David realise that he is not alone in this crisis, David realises God knows and cares to listen. It is this that changes his mental attitude and wellbeing.
I am praying that like David the knowledge that God can hear our cries of distress will bring comfort in these dark times.
If you want to read about the events that led up to this then you can find it in the First book of Samuel chapters18, 19 and 23.
Rosemary Lethbridge – (Minister of The Watering Hole)
