From Kay-Chong Yeo, 15 May 2021
Here are some words of encouragement before we enter into Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) or some would call it, “CB-Lite”, where we are going to have tighter measures, restrictions and controls. May these words help strengthen you even in this period.
We Have Been Here Before
First of all, we have been here before. Last year was a unique experience, so this is not something new for us. If you think about it, last year was much worse. There were a lot of uncertainties and unknowns. We will be alright. We have been here before. Look back to last year, what happened and learn from it. We all will come out good.
No Matter What Happens, God is Still With Us
The second thing is this: no matter what happens, God is still with us. We’ve got to hold on to this. The Lord has been preparing us. Even in this time, we are going through the Upper Room Discourse. .
Just that one verse, John 14:1, is what God is speaking to us now — “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe (trust) in God, believe (trust) also in Me (Jesus).” This is really the time to take this verse and lean in and have that divine conversation with Jesus. He is more than able to guide our hearts and minds into the peace that surpasses all understanding. God has really been preparing us for this for a long time. We just need to lean in to Him and also dig in and dig deep to all that He has prepared us.
Don’t Fight Too Hard
The third thing is this: don’t fight too hard. Of course, we need to fight hard at the place of prayer. However, if after we have prayed and things still do not turn out to be what we expect or want, don’t look back saying, “I wish it had been this or that,” or get frustrated, because God is in control. If we have prayed, we leave it to God.
At the end of the day, we pray and we do what we can. If God allows this where we all have to go onto Zoom and online, I will lean into God and ask the Lord, “What are you teaching me through this time?”
If we fight too hard, it will cause our hearts to be troubled and get distracted. At the end of the day, we fight at the place of prayer. After we have prayed, we surrender it unto the Lord.
Ask the Lord to Help us to Learn
The fourth thing is this: we can ask the Lord, “What do You want us to learn from this incident?” If we have not really learnt or did not respond well during last year’s CB, what is the lesson that the Lord wants us to learn once again?
This is the time in which we must really learn what the Lord is teaching us. If our response this year is much better than last year, then we have learnt something. See this phase as “free tuition” where the Lord is giving us another opportunity to learn. The restrictions are not as bad this year — in a way, we are still allowed to move around and there is still accessibility to many things. The only thing is that there are many more restrictions.
Ask God for the Word of the Lord
This last point is serious and important. This is really the time to ask God, whether individually or corporately as a Body of Christ, “God what are You saying, what are You doing and what is happening?” We need the Word of the Lord right now to guide us. The pandemic seems to be unending. God must be saying something. He must be wanting us to prepare for something.
“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?
This could be the occasion where God is strengthening us, causing us to flex our muscles so that we will truly come out with the strength of horses. We can expect something much worse 10 years from now, so we really need to see from the perspective of God.
May the Lord give you His divine strength, peace and rest. May His presence will be with you even throughout these four difficult weeks and may you find the strength in Him. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
