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Over the last month we have been praying on our message series entitled, RECOVER: HOPE AFTER TRAUMA. In Week 1, we thought about different types of trauma. Week 2 we looked at the notions of recovery. Week 3 we reviewed the message of hope.
As we end the series, we need to pull it all together and try to digest how our spiritual resources give us just what we need to recover from the trauma of covid, and move forward with our lives.
Interestingly, today we hear the Word of God from the Book of Wisdom:
God did not make death,
nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living ...
For God formed man to be imperishable;
the image of his own nature he made him.
Powerful and reassuring words that address those false prophets of our day who suggested that God instituted covid as a punishment for bad people. Nothing could be further from the truth! God creates us to be imperishable … in his own image he creates us … so that we can bring his image to our world, our challenged, broken, and needy world.
If you’ve ever been on an airplane … think about the safety demonstration … part where they say should the pressure change and oxygen masks should fall from the ceiling compartments, be sure to put your own mask on first, then assist a child or other … the same is true here …
First, we need to find God’s security, God’s oxygen, God’s reassurance in our lives, before we can help others recover from the trauma of covid and all the traumas of life.
The psalmist today sings the hymn, I will praise you Lord for you have rescued me! And isn’t it true? … the Lord has rescued us from the ravages of covid, gifting scientists, and health care workers, and first responders and those on the front lines of all walks of life … working together and with God’s grace … we have been rescued … but we need to honor the first part of the hymn, the part that says:
I will praise you Lord …
How can we best praise the Lord? While there are many answers, here are some great ways to praise the Lord:
1. Praise Him by lifting your hands – as many do with the Lord's prayer;
2. Praise Him with singing – our music ministry inspires us to join in;
3. Praise Him with your words – taking time to pray, every day, many times;
4. Praise Him with dancing and instruments – physically and literally;
5. Praise Him in fellowship with other believers – coming together to worship weekly;
6. Praise Him in service to others – having the Jesus in me, care for the Jesus in you!
The Gospel today includes how important the notion of touching is … In our germ conscious society, especially in these post-covid days, we sometimes hold back one of the greatest gifts we can offer to another person – the gift of healing touch. Jesus was aware of this power and usually touched the person he was healing or let them touch him.
As we move forward, in recovery, finding hope after trauma, let’s continue to find ways to touch one another’s lives, as the Lord has touched ours …
May His healing touch and our generous response be a continual source of recovery for us and all who are in need, today and always!