Friday 5th June 2020

Looking to the Rainbow

Stop the world I want to get off – well the world has stopped, so to speak, and we have more time to reflect and be by ourselves. More time to be ‘still and know that I am God’.  (Psalm 46 verse 10) - BUT we soon become impatient, wanting this pandemic so go away so that we can get back to some sort of normality.  We miss the small things that we took so readily for granted, like a hug, meeting with one another on a Sunday morning etc.

We are not very good at being patient and waiting, and often change our minds about exactly what we do want, very often wanting something we cannot have.

God is unchanging, He is the same today, the same yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. 

Words that I have kept hearing and thinking about are: patience, perseverance, encouragement and hope.

We need to be patient whilst waiting for the restrictions that have been imposed on us, over the last 12 weeks, to be lifted whilst at the same time persevering to stay safe, wash hands, limit contact with people from outside of our own household.  We all want to see light at the end of the tunnel, but we are right to be cautious that restrictions are not lifted too soon only to find that this causes tighter lockdown restrictions to be re-instated.  The numbers we see on our screens are people’s lives.

We all need encouragement and we are fortunate to get this with Stephen’s help, along with others who write words of encouragement and teaching, which remind us that God is with us and walking alongside us. 

Finally, the word HOPE.  All of us who believe and trust in Jesus know that we have hope.  One of my favourite passages is Isaiah chapter 40 verses 27-31. These verses say:

Do you not know, have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

The creator of the ends of the earth,

He will not grow tired or weary,

And his understanding no-one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

And increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

And young men stumble and fall;

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not be faint.

A symbol that has been used in this pandemic is the rainbow which God used to promise Noah that He would never destroy the earth again and HE put the rainbow in the sky so that we would not forget this promise. Therefore, there is ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ – a new day will come.

It is tough, and these times are very trying but God is with us and he will hold us in his loving arms and give us the strength we need for today. 

I finish with the words of a song - the school where I work, was asked to join in making a video of this song.  The words struck a chord with me (pardon the pun).

If you would like to hear the song (I changed a few of the words) you can listen to them on you tube.  Please type the following words into Youtube: looking to the rainbow Birmingham

We used to be together each week

Meeting in our church and then each going our way

We used to meet to sing and pray

And gathered for our service to kick off the day

But now the new rule

Means church’s changed

We don’t know when we’ll meet again

But even though we’re in lockdown

We won’t be knocked down

Cause we’re still a family

And we’re looking to the rainbow

Because we all know

There is hope for you and me

A new day will come

God bless you all – until we meet soon – Ruth

P.S. from Stephen: As I read what Ruth had written and thought about ‘patience, perseverance, encouragement and hope’ a particular song came to mind. YouTube: ‘He will hold me fast lyrics’ If you have a ‘church members address list’ look though it and spend a few moments praying for some of those listed in it.

I look forward to writing to you on Sunday - Stephen

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