Last week we made the call to give up our Florida vacation. But what seemed like a tough decision last week, today makes us sigh with relief. How much has changed in the past week! And looking forward, it’s hard to fathom how we are to live with so much uncertainty. With the fear of suffering, of losing loved ones, fear for our jobs, for the economy, even for our kid’s education. Nothing is certain right now and it makes the world a very scary place.
And then, to top this all off, we are supposed to live through this in isolation??? Without being able to go to church and enjoy the presence of our church family or go to the library and pick up a new book, or chat with a friend at the grocery store, or have friends over for coffee, or get the kids together so they can play, or at least get somewhat of a break from our immediate family? I’m sure some of you are even longing to go back to work! I know we have our phones and video chats, but we all know it’s a poor substitute. I want to get out and I want my people around me!!!
And as I’ve thought about it, I realized that this whole situation brings me back to when we had Ava. Life was hard back when we were dealing with a sick baby who’s heart was failing. Her future was very uncertain, and we didn’t know if God was going to bring her a needed heart, or if he was going to take her home. We had no idea what life was going to look for us going forward, we didn’t even know how many days we had left with Ava! We were worried about Jason’s job and money and how it would impact our other kids. And to top it all off we spent much of that time living in Toronto, in isolation away from our friends and family. Yes, this current situation really does bring me back to that time. And it’s funny how sometimes you have to face tough times alone.
But if you’re read any of this blog, you know that God was so faithful to us during our time with Ava. Even when Jesus called her home and we had to come back to London without her, we never doubted God’s love to us. And it’s crazy, but even when we were alone, we never felt alone! Through the faithfulness of our friends and family and our church family who kept in constant contact with us and encouraged us, we always knew someone was thinking of us, praying for us and supporting us. We could definitely feel God’s hand upon our lives.
During that time I used this blog to reach out and update everyone on how Ava was doing, but secretly I was also using it to work through my own angst, and maybe that’s why I’m turning to it again today.
So just like back then, I will first get off my chest what is hard, and then instead of going to a dark place, I will then think about what is about God that I know to be true. This seems to be a winning combination for me. 
So what do I know about God to be true, even in this present time? Well, this morning we were so blessed to go online and hear a sermon by our Pastor Mark at Stoneycreek Baptist Church. He preached to us from Psalm 46, and oh how I love the first verse of that psalm which says, “God is our refuge and strength and our very present help in trouble.”
How that truth transcends the ages! The psalmist goes on to say that we don’t have to fear though the earth gives way, or it’s water’s roar and foam, or the mountains tremble, because God is in the midst of all. And even when the nations rage and kingdoms totter, He just has to speak and the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us and He is our fortress. Can you find any words more encouraging words than that?
This is exactly what my soul needed to hear today. That even though I’m feeling helpless when I see what other countries are suffering through right now, and I’m scared about what we might be called upon to suffer, the Lord is in the midst of all of this. And when things are uncertain, He is always certain. And if we trust in Him, He will never let us falter or fall, He will be with us to end. That’s a promise.
He will help us when we are sick of being around our kids 24/7 and when we just long to go out, somewhere, anywhere! Or to even or just to go shopping like we could a week ago or simply go to church or go to work. When we don’t know where the money is going to come from and we’re scared for our friends and family and even we think we’re going to run out of TP, God is here, He knows.
And like Mark said in closing, God is sovereign over all, we have nothing to fear. This is what I know about God to be true, and this is what I’m clinging to today in the midst of uncertainty and isolation.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”