I wonder if you or someone you know has been impacted by the recent quarantine regulations on return from holiday? How are you feeling? Or how are you feeling about the impact of the recent total and subsequent partial lockdown? Have you/do you feel angry at all? And is it OK to feel like this? How do you handle anger?
If you have time, read Psalm 4:1-8 . In verse 1 David looks to God, knowing He has helped him in the past. Then in v2-5 he listens to and speaks with people. He increasingly becomes someone with self at his centre, which adds to his anger, giving him feelings of pointlessness and being empty. Is this you in these days? Does lack of control, possessions and reputation make you increasingly angry? God says that if we set our heart on “things” with us at the centre, we will be angry!
Maybe this enforced time at home with cancelled holidays, gives us the opportunity to ponder quietly what is going on in our own hearts? Do we need to learn again the discipline of being silently with God and placing our trust in Him with Him at our centre?
Well if we look at v 6-8, we find a model for joy and peace. When we contemplate Jesus life on earth, He had few possessions, was in some situations where He had little control and had His reputation questioned and YET He managed to know a deep joy. Psalm 4:8 says,” In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Wherever you are at with your anger/frustration/crossness at the present times, we hope and pray you can find that peace and safety as Numbers 6:24 says,
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Hilary
Assistant Chaplain at The Living Well