Messiness in this Pandemic ~ Chris Keim

Staff, February 23, 2021

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" ~ Romans 8:35

During the Pandemic, we have all been touched in varied ways by this disease. Certainly some have been affected by the loss of life, the loss of loved ones, the loss of health, some by the loss of employment and the loss of financial stability. Some people have had to work increased hours in the community setting or in hospitals putting themselves at higher risk of getting the disease.  Many of us have been isolated, in our homes, isolated from family and friends.  Some have been in hospitals or healthcare facilities without having loved ones present while they are suffering. In the church, we have been affected by the loss of physical fellowship and the kind of worship we have known for as long as we have been coming to church.  The collective loss is truly immeasurable.
Romans, chapter 8 is a chapter that speaks a truth about God’s love for us that I find very helpful.  When I read it, I am reminded of some of the people that I have met through my connections at Hephatha Lutheran Church, which is one of our partners.   The people that come to mind are people who have experienced unfathomable hardships and yet through their hardships, they have received comfort and strength in their faith in God’s love and have praised and worshiped God.   I will tell you about one woman who lived the last 6 years of her life in a healthcare facility.  She was younger than me, had 11 children, had become blind and bedridden and could not care for herself.  As a part of Hephatha’s work ministry, I would visit her with four or five youth. We would stand around her bed and she would listen to the children talk about what they were doing in school or activities they liked.  She would interact with them and ask questions and smile and laugh and encourage them like they were like her own. When we would pray, she would pray for the homeless, the hungry, the sick and the suffering and praise God for his mercy and grace. Her hardship and suffering were very real and yet she was comforted by God’s love and certainly by our presence to her in her suffering.  Her faith and strength, through her suffering, has influenced me and strengthened my faith in God’s love for all of us.  He is with us; each of us and nothing will ever stop that love. He knows our personal and collective suffering and wants us to know His love and be comforted in it. I believe he wants us to share the hope we find in that love with others, especially those whose suffering is profound.
Heavenly Father, Help us to know the depths of your love for us. Help us to be comforted in our most difficult days and to share Your love and compassion and the faith we have in you, with others who suffer greatly. Amen.