We are approaching one of the most special and holy times in the Church calendar with the end of Lent and the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter fast approaching. This is usually a time of great celebration and thanksgiving. We remember the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross and are joyful at his resurrection, the resurrection which we will one day share in glory! Not only that, but we also get to enjoy things like hot cross buns, tasty fish on Good Friday, maybe a roast on Sunday and who could forget chocolate eggs!

But with the events that have been happening recently, with many events cancelled, including attending church itself no longer an option, everyone is feeling flat rather than uplifted. When we are meant to remember God’s love being near to us, God at this time can feel very far away. With so much fear, uncertainty, loss and even death, where is God? Has he left us alone to fend for ourselves?

The psalms are one of the richest texts on theology, on teachings about who God is and what he is like. The psalms are a collection of poetry and songs expressing some of the deepest human emotions. There is so much to relate to for everyone in the psalms. In Psalm 121, this is what the writer has to say in his time of distress:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.		 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

This psalm shows what God is like. He is constantly watching over us in our daily walk. He makes sure that we will not slip or fall, and provides for us in our time of need. The times we live in with the coronavirus are indeed scary and uncertain, but we know that God is watching over us in our need. The path ahead will be frightening, it will bring much hardship, it won’t be easy. There will be times when we are filled with great grief and anguish and confusion. But God will be with us, walking beside us so we don’t need to face this alone. Like a small child who is frightened, God is there holding our hand, as the psalmist writes in Psalm 73:23. What a great comfort to know that we are so well loved and watched over!

Although the coronavirus has temporarily stopped much of our tradition, it reminds us of the reliance we have on God and the salvation and deliverance that comes from him. The same salvation and deliverance which we remember at Easter. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate sign and action of God’s love for us. Life has triumphed over death, our mighty God is victorious and nothing can overcome him, not even the coronavirus or our fear of it.

Have a wonderful Easter celebrating with those close to you and may God bless you.