Letters Written on Our Hearts

It’s the end of April 2020. I feel like a marathon runner who is fighting to keep his mind in the game when all is his body wants to do is quit. Or maybe it’s the other way around.

For months now, all I have heard on the news is about Covid 19 and most of it is bad. It’s wearing me down. Occasionally, there will be a little bit of good news at the end of a broadcast which gives a glimmer of hope for treatment or a cure. But the uncertainty of the health experts, economists and politicians bleeds through their polished presentations, leaving me uncertain.

Then there are those who would say we all quarantined for nothing and the thought of that is equally distressing. No matter what side of that argument we land, there is good news as we look to the Word of God which is solid and truthful.

Speaking of distress and bad news, the Psalmist can relate. Take a look at some of David’s bad news in Psalms 31 (NASB).

• He needs to be delivered (vs 1)
• He needs to be rescued (vs 2)
• He needs guidance (vs 3)
• He was in distress (vs 9)
• He’s grief-stricken (vs 9)
• He’s weak (vs 10)
• He feels forgotten (vs 12)
• He is broken (vs 12)
• There is terror on every side (vs 13)

Is there one or more things on the list above that you can relate to in light of the recent events?

As usual with the Psalms, what starts out as bad news, usually ends up with good news! Look at these words of hope also written by David.

I trust in You, O Lord. You are my God (vs 14)
My times are in Your hands (vs 15)
You hide the sons of men in the secret place of Your presence (vs 20)
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues (vs 20)
He (the Lord) made marvelous his lovingkindness to me (vs 21)
You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to You (vs 22)
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord (vs24)

If you, like David, feel like a piece of broken pottery, who better to put back the pieces than the Potter himself?