Encouragement for the Days Ahead

Christine Johnson • March 17, 2020

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Such times we’re living in! Was it only a week ago that we were looking forward to the NCAA basketball tournament? Or to stopping by a favorite restaurant for a long, slow meal with a group of friends? Or to choir practice? Or to dartball? Or to a simple, quick trip to the well-stocked grocery store for perfectly ordinary, everyday items? I’m nostalgic for the good ol’ days of early March!

Surreal as it seems, a spiky virus has overtaken whatever we once thought of as normal. Uncertainty abounds, and we certainly don’t like uncertainty!

Some things are certain, though:

  • It is certain that God is with us; we need only pay attention.
  • It is certain that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not even by a minimal distance of 6 feet.
  • It is certain that if we remember God’s promises and trust them to be authentic that we can lower our anxiety.
  • It is certain that if we can keep our anxiety lowered, we will do better in these challenging times than if we give way to panic.

To paraphrase the verse at the top of the page, when we remember the power of love—of empathy and compassion and good will—and when we remember to use our sound minds—our intelligence and problem-solving skills and rational thoughts—then fear is not our M.O.

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Welcome to the inaugural post of a new blog. Here I hope to provide current information about what is happening at College Hill Moravian Church during this trying season of pandemic. I also hope to provide encouragement to souls weary with worry. Check back often. This will be one of the primary ways we keep in touch while being kept apart by circumstances.

Be safe. Be well. Be blessed.

Pastor Chris

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