Reading:
Surely he has borne our sickness,
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
(1 Peter 5:6-7)
Meditation:
When a virus sweeps our community like this, it’s good to remember that God is the God of all flesh (Jeremiah 32:27). He rules over all the animals, including human beings. More than that, he knows what it’s like to be human, for the Son of God became the Son of Man. He rules all flesh even in himself.
Most of us don’t have any doubt about God’s capacity, his ability to wipe out a virus or to save a life. More often we are left wondering over his judgment, his judgment to preserve this one and not that one. His judgment to answer certain prayers and not others. His judgment to allow something like this to happen in the first place. Why, God? Why?
But God does not reveal his knowledge to us. He does not share all of his wisdom. Some wisdom is for God alone to possess. Indeed, “who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? (Romans 11:34). Of course, the answer is, no one.
And yet, even without access to God's hidden wisdom, we can be sure of one thing: it cannot be that he doesn’t care. For if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have entered in. If he didn’t care he would not have put on flesh. If he didn’t care he would not have suffered. If he did not love us, he would not have died for us.
We do not know the answers to why God has allowed this virus to attack those we love. But we do know it cannot be because he doesn’t care.
Lean into that. And pray. He hears you. He cares for you.
Prayer:
Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
Let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
(Psalm 5:1-3, 11-12)