Comfort in Dire Moments

During the height of Covid, someone messaged me the following expressing the dire health and hospital conditions many tragically faced.

Make no mistake. When loved ones are removed from your home by ambulance because the virus has hit them hard, you are not going to be able to follow them there, sit by their hospital bed and hold their hand. You are not going to be able to pop in at 7.00 pm for visiting hours. They are going to have no one other than exhausted and brave hospital staff to see them through days or weeks of barely breathing through a ventilator until they either die or recover. They are not going to be well enough to text you. You are not going to be able to phone the ward to check in on them regularly (staff will be too busy for that). During that time, they will be completely alone, while you sit at home waiting to hear whether they have made it. Imagine that person is someone you love dearly. Because it’s a reality for many. And if that person in the hospital is you, going through  it would be indescribable.”

Disconcerting? Absolutely. Dire?  Yes!  Tragic.  What is our hope in dire, tragic times? Is there any hope? Yes, we who have placed our faith in Jesus have the assurance that in even the direst of times, our eternal Father and Jesus, the Prince of Peace” are with us. Isaiah 9:6  Bible scholar and commentator Charles Ryrie explains that Eternal Father  means “Messiah is eternally a Father to His people, guarding, supplying, and caring for their needs.” There could be no greater comfort in dire situations. We have a Father of Eternity who is with us and our loved ones. He is present – guarding, supplying, and caring for those who have placed their trust in Him. Who do we need to share Him with today?

Eternal Father, in the direst of times, when our hearts are breaking, thank You for being with us. Stir us to speak the truth and hope we have in You with those in our lives who do not know You.