I doubt many of us were surprised by the announcements yesterday. As we've watched the news and seen the infection rate going up, and so sadly the death rate with it - we've probably all been expecting another lockdown for a little while.
And yet... perhaps just for me, it has the danger of feeling a bit exhausting, overwhelming and painful. I dislike the phrase "the new normal" but if there is something which is consistent in this season, it's that very little seems to be consistent.
One of the biggest surprises this week is, if I'm honest, that Jess and I moved into the house without anyone getting ill, or the house being unavailable, or the movers ending up in Southampton or Southport - or some other such unexpected change. Everything went normally and according to plan - and as I sit here reflecting on the week, it's sad how unusual that is in this season of life.
For those of us following Bible in one year, the NT reading is from Hebrews today.
I preached my final sermon at St Paul's a few weeks ago on trust (you can listen here) and as part of that I shared a picture I was given by a friend who had been praying for me in this season. The picture was of me crossing a river on stepping stones, at night, in a deep fog. It was possible, most of the time, to see the stone just ahead, but not the ones beyond. This picture spoke so clearly to me, and I expect it may to others as well.
The reality is, this season, if it's teaching us anything, it's that we need to be careful who or indeed what we are putting our hope in, what are we trusting. If we feel our foundations are being rocked - God is calling us, once again to lift our eyes to Him, to hear His voice and to know His leading and His faithfulness.
Perhaps we need, once again, to draw near to the one who speaks - through His word. Words of life, words of hope, words of light - word's which give us promise that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Hebrews reminds us, not to harden our hearts to Him - but to hear Him, and to know His calling, and ultimately to trust Him.
Throughout this last few weeks, I've not been able to get the below song out of my head. It's a bit old now, but it's words ring true today. There IS a light shining that the darkness doesn't understand.
Let's, today be people of light, people of hope, people who place our hope and trust in God - and "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations" (Deut. 7:9) Amen
There's a battle raging over this land
A deep damage in the people
But pride stops us
Stretching out our withered hand
But God has stretched out to heal us
This I know this I know
This I know this I know
That just one touch from the King
Changes ev'rything
Just one touch from the King
Changes ev'rything (ev'rything)
There's a great darkness over this land
A deep darkness on the people
But a light is shining
That the dark can't understand
The Light of the world King Jesus
Do you know do you know
Do you know do you know
Oh land oh land oh land
Hear the Word of the Lord
Oh land oh land oh land
Hear the Word of the Lord
