At this moment in time, it’s easy to become faint-hearted, hopeless, insecure and dread what may come to pass. However, these are the moments you need to be strong, courageous, hopeful and stand firm in faith. Suffering brings us face-to-face with reality. It helps us see ourselves differently, something we normally do not experience when times are good. It helps us look at ourselves and life from a different perspective.

Sufficiency in life sometimes takes us away from things that are essentially important for our soul. Moments of crises gives us the opportunity to evaluate those insecurities, the inadequacies and fragilities of life. It makes us realise our insufficiency. During our times of suffering, we may wonder why God has abandoned us, or why He is not intervening in our situation. However, it is during these moments of trials, God is closer to us than we realise.

Most of us have not faced these kinds of crises before, like those associated with COVID-19. As humans, we imitate the behaviour of others. Since most people have given into panic and emptying food and essentials from the stores, everyone seems to be following the current trend of stocking up on food and essentials. The goal being for one to have enough when things go in lockdown. However, the problem arises when everyone tries to store more than what is required. This covetous behaviour will affect the marginalised drastically. Let’s look at how our overstocking on food and essentials impact the weak and the vulnerable. Imagine a scenario of a newborn baby. He is two-months old. His mother is ill and cannot nurse him anymore. He must depend on formula for his survival. However, the shelves are empty. There’s no formula, no milk, not even the long-life milk cartoons. It’s all gone. The baby is starving, continues to cry the entire night. He is rapidly losing weight. His survival is at stake. Day 2, no formula again. He continues to cry. His mother, out of hopelessness, tries to feed him pureed food. However, he vomits. Day 3, the baby is losing weight drastically. He is ill and his body temperature is rising. His mother rushes him to the emergency section of the nearest hospital.

Imagine another scenario of an elderly lady. She is suffering from arthritis. She has difficulty moving around. Her joints are sore and hurting. She has no painkillers. So, she goes to the chemist, but there are no over-the-counter painkillers. The shelves are all empty. Her anxiety increases. Furthermore, when she realises there are no painkillers anywhere, she feels helpless. The same evening, she decides to have a sandwich for dinner. She realises she has no bread either. She never expected life would become so horrifying to live with. As her heart sinks in despair, she undergoes a massive heart attack.  

In the animal kingdom there is no right or wrong behaviour. They don’t follow any ethics, principals or morality. It’s a kingdom of the survival of the fittest. The weak, by default, are the prey. They live according to their animal instincts. If they feel hungry, they pounce on their food and devour it. As humans, we too have the animal instinct. However, we also have a transcendental nature within us. We too feel hunger pangs just like the animals, but we have a conscience. We know what is right and what is wrong. For instance, we know that we cannot eat another human being just because we are hungry. The major difference between humans and animals is empathy. We can sense the pain of others. Unlike the animals, we defend and protect the weak and vulnerable. We take care of women, children and the elderly. We believe in fairness, justice, equality, peace and goodwill for everyone. We consider life to be precious and protect human dignity. We believe life is sacred and every person is the image and likeness of God. Therefore, instead of following our animal and basic instincts, we strive for morality and ethical living, providing care and nurturing life.

On the lower end of the spectrum, there are the basic needs and on the higher end of the spectrum, there is holiness. Most people focus on the lower spectrum which is on the basic needs and fail to become holy. The word of God calls us to move beyond our basic needs because the more you focus only on your basic needs you will never fulfil the purpose God has for your life. The word of God commands us to seek God’s kingdom first. Strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33, NewRSV).

We are all in this together. Let us reach out for those who are weak and vulnerable, especially the marginalised and those in need of care. Look out for yourself as well. It’s wise to store up for a rainy day or a COVID-19 shut down. However, to take more than what is necessary for up to a week could deprive others of their necessity, and in some cases, life itself.

Jesus tells His disciples the parable of the rich man, to reinstate the priority in our lives.

15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Lk 12: 13-34 NewRSV)

As we grieve in this present moment, for those that are suffering, those that have passed away, we know that in life or in death, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:39). They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). To the elderly, weak and feeble, remember that when the eagle gets old, he goes on the mountain top and remains in isolation, and there in that isolation he renews his strength, under the heat of the sun. Remain in Jesus, the Son of the living God, and He will renew your strength. God promises you to be your strength. Remember, when you are weak, that is when you are strong. 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10).

Hope in the Lord and He will sustain you. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved (Ps 55:22). They call it the golden years for a reason. There is something precious about it. Don’t let the virus scare you. You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus who strengthens you (Rom 8:37). I always find Jesus closest to me during tough times, I hope you find Him too.

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