Some Words of Hope and Comfort in this Trying Times

In the past few weeks, my Facebook feed has been beset with posts from friends sharing about the death of a loved one, sickness, financial difficulties, and many problems.

What made matters worse is that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in their respective places prohibit them from visiting their loved ones. It’s a so-near-but-yet-so-far case.

I empathise with what my friends are going through as we ourselves are also living far from our families. This is the predicament of every migrant family living in NZ or anywhere else in the world.

Nothing and no one has prepared us from the pandemic and its impacts. However, I would like to share these verses that give me faith, hope, and strength to overcome whenever trials come.

Proverbs 10:25

If you’re going through many kinds of “storms” in life, stand firm on the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. Isn’t Jesus himself who said in Matthew 6:33 that we should seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness (emphasis mine) and all these things will be given to us as well.

Romans 8:35-39

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can never boast about our possessions or life’s possibilities for we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we can always be thankful for His mercies and grace today.

Let us bear in mind and hold on to the truth that beyond the sunset is a sunrise to another place, even a much better place.

May this short reflection give you hope and strengthen your faith. May the Holy Spirit give you wisdom as you go through life’s challenges today and in the days ahead.

Jonan