Encouragement for this week

Who would have ever thought that in mid-March we'd all be sequestered in our homes, staying away from church and school? Who could have known that we'd all be washing our hands like crazy and bathing ourselves in hand sanitizer when no handwashing facilities were near? Who would have predicted that spring sports would come to a grinding halt?

I live in Durham, North Carolina, about halfway between Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As you can imagine, this time of year is usually dominated by college basketball. This year? Well, "March Madness" seems an appropriate descriptor; it just doesn't mean what it usually does.

The novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic has frightened us, hasn't it? I imagine that you, like me, are very concerned for your elderly family members and friends, for your family and friends who are immunosuppressed, for all your loved ones. The world situation is frightening, and we are right to take the threat seriously.

But we must also remember that we are not alone.

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite passages of scripture, one that I cling to when things seem awfully dark.

These are the words of John the apostle, who spent years with Jesus in the flesh and then many years walking with Jesus after Jesus had ascended to heaven:

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:5-7).

We live in a fallen world, a world that includes sin and sickness and death. But today and always, God is good, and we can trust that absolutely nothing is able to separate us from God's love.

As you care for yourself, your family, and your neighbors, may the knowledge of God's goodness fill your heart today.

Much love to you.