Be Strong & Courageous!
Hello Everyone. My name is Celia Palamalayil. This quarantine has affected so many of us whether it be mentally, physically, or spiritually. If you feel like you have lost your connection to the Lord or just want a few things to think about, please keep reading:)
As many of you may have seen or heard, believers across the globe have tied the bible verse Joshua 1:9 to the COVID-19 virus. Check out the picture below!
The verse itself states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9. There may be times where we feel alone, scared, and confused. Believe me, lots of people feel this way especially now. One thing I remember hearing from my older brother Albin is that “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.” It took me a while to really understand the power of that quote, but it stuck the second I heard it. Sometimes we are in such difficult situations thinking there is no way out. That’s when the power of prayer is revealed to us. Any worries in your mind or pain in your heart, tell God about it. He listens to you and will take those worries and pains away from you.
God is with you every step of the way. At times we look back and may only see one set of footprints and begin to doubt our Lord. That one set of footprints belongs to the Lord. In times of hardship, God has carried you and will continue to carry you. Any time, any place, speak to God and he will hear you. During this global pandemic, God is with each and every one of us. Every minute of every day, He is with us. All of us.
Who can admit not being able to attend church, having to live stream the service, and watching sermons from the other side of a screen just doesn’t feel right? I sure can. Going to a physical church, listening to the hymns, responding to the priest, all are such unique experiences. I’ve been feeling so unmotivated to watch a live stream and sometimes even to just pray throughout the day. What I’ve realized is that everyone has a different way of keeping themselves spiritually hydrated.
You might find yourself closer to the Lord through meditation and prayer, maybe through reading scripture. You may feel closer to God when you are listening to worship music or maybe you connect with him in a different way. Whatever helps guide YOU to God, do it. Now more than ever we have so much time on our hands. We always have plenty to pray for (family, friends, neighbors, school, etc.) Take this time, right now. Do not forget while praying, to thank God for all he has provided you with. A roof over your head, food on the table, a loving family by your side, and much more.
Just a quick list of praise and worship songs to get you through your day:
- Lord, I need you– Matt Maher
- By Your Side– Tenth Avenue North
- Your Love– Brandon Heath
- Sparrows– Jason Gray
- City On Our Knees– TobyMac
- Christ In Me– Jeremy Camp
- Every Little Thing– Hillsong Young & Free
- We Won’t Be Shaken– Building 429
- Somebody Tell Them– City Harbor
- Healing Begins– Tenth Avenue North
Something to keep in mind…
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”- Romans 8:18
*In other words, “The pain that you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming!”*
I truly hope everyone reading this is staying safe and healthy. Take the time to pray, reach out to friends and family, and love God:)
With love and blessings,
Celia <3
What a timely message. Thanks for sharing. I really appreciated “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.” and the analogy of keeping “spiritually hydrated.” God’s desire for us as believers is to be “One as Jesus and He are One” (John 14:21) and that is why we long to be back in physical fellowship with each other at a place of worship.