Words of Hope During COVID-19
Shalom R. Agtarap, worship leader for a Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation, talks about routines during COVID. Because words sometimes get in the way, she has begun a practice of raising a dish in silence to show gratitude for her meals.
Over the last few months, family and friends of The Upper Room have been sharing how they are creating daily life with God during these strange times. If you have found these videos to be meaningful, we invite you to subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
Today’s Reflection
When life is unfair, we are propelled to ask, “Does God understand? Does God care? Does God help?” All three persons of the Trinity respond with a divine “Yes.” The fact that God is a person means God understands. All three persons of the Trinity show that God cares, and all three reveal significant ways God helps. The Trinity takes us into God’s heart even when we cannot understand God’s ways. The most important truth we know about God’s heart is that it is a heart of love.
—Steve Harper, Talking in the Dark: Praying When Life Doesn’t Make Sense (Upper Room Books, 2007)
Today’s Question
How does the Trinity help you trust that God understands and cares about you? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
All you people: Trust in him at all times!
Pour out your hearts before him!
God is our refuge!
—Psalm 62:8 (CEB)
Prayer for the Week
God! Please hurry to my rescue!
Yahweh, come quickly to my side!
—from Psalm 70
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
No matter what we are feeling —distress, trust, anger, or delight— we find the words of the Psalms accompany us into God’s presence. Pray with the Psalms.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
- Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30
- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
- John 20:19-23 or 7:37-39
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
5 Comments
Actually, whenever, I have been in my lowest spots in life, I have directed my prayers to our Triune God. They are three persons in One and powerful to answer and carry me through the agony, be it mental, physical or emotional, or a combination of concerns. I sing my joys, usually, even trying to do so during the lowest of times.
Jill, I have no words to properly express my condolences to you and the family of the poor soul who committed suicide. I’ve been to that point and could give my view, but everyone is different. God kept me from making the irreversible act and psychiatric care, medicines and therapy have done the rest. Also provided by our Abba, Father. Thank You, Daddy.
Praying that Ally gets her rest as David continues to heal. Exhaustion can take your ability to deal with it all and definitely takes a toll on your perspective. Praying that David is able to see a doctor for any depression he might be experiencing as he heals. These things are really important for overall health and well-being.
I am praying for Julie, Robert, Lou, Rick and LC, Andrea and her family, April and her family for all and any concerns. Also prayers for Connie, Betsy, Francesca, Mary, Rusty, any visitors to New Every Morning and all in the BALCONY and beyond. May God our Father come to your aid with any concerns and/or sorrows.
I am grateful, Lord Jesus Christ, for so many blessings. Please help me overcome the challenges of my health and continue to sing Your praises all the time.
And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love; and the greatest of these is LOVE. Sending that LOVE anchored in God, to all. Remember to sing a hymn or songs to express our joy in praise of God and Jesus Christ, our Savior.
❤⚓🙏❤⚓🙏❤⚓🙏❤ 🎼🎵🎶🌅🎼🎶🎵🌄
The Trinity – perfect in relationship…a model for us. Yes, He knows us so very well, He beckons us into community with Him, as well as others. We see so well His characteristics through His covenantal relationships all throughout His Word. His Son – a human example on Earth – fulfilling the will of His Father – demonstrating for us how our relationships, considerations and interactions should be. And the continual transforming work of the Spirit, when we surrender.
Father – our concerns are right there, in front of us, before You. Thank You for the strides David has made with the help of various people. May he continue to heal well, regaining strength and confidence. May the long term impacts be minimal. Sustain Ally as she supports him.
Father – the unrest is our country is great. Living through this pandemic has so many people on edge, quick to react and judge. Oh, Lord, bring healing to our land…we need it in so many ways.
God loved us and wanted a relationship with us so badly that he sent his Son. Jesus loved us enough to die a horrible death on the cross and before he left his disciples he told them because of this love he was giving them the Holy Spirit.
Prayers for Jill and her family, may they stay safe and healthy. I join my prayers for the country with yours amidst such unrest and distrust and suffering.
Prayers for Marcy, for relief from her suffering and her profound love for God. She is a beacon and an exapmle to all.
Prayers for Ally and David, may David recover completely, with no lasting effects. May he be patient at this time. Strengthen Ally, dear Lord, hold her in your arms and carry her when she needs. Ally we are with you and would gladly help if we could, may our words suffice.
Prayers for Robert, may he be safe and healthy and prayers for those iin his prayers and heart.
H revealed yeaterday that he does indeed go on vacation with his “friends”, the ones he gives money to and intends to leave all his assets to in his will. The ones who helped him forge my name so he could defraud me of his share of his pension. He is unaware that I know these things, which I have related to my lawyer, who has reassured me she will take action when I am ready and he will not get away with any of it.
Prayers, thank you and stay safe dear UR
I have another website that has daily messages related to COVID-19 and our responses. It talks about trauma of the soul during this time when the world has changed so much and we feel we have no control. We respond with outburst, depression, worry, anxiety, etc. It is suggested that we acknowledge how we are affected by this trauma and seek out help, being prepared for the time. I am reflecting on this and will be looking at myself for clues as well as others.
Ally, I am thinking of you and David as healing comes slowly. My neighbor fell and was not able to be on her feet for several months. Now as her bones have healed, she is working to regain her muscle strength that was also affected. She is going to PT and progressing with baby steps during this process. She is not aware of her long road to wellness, but has faith and courage and I pray for you the same.
Marcy, your uplifting messages and pictures are an inspiration for the day ahead. So glad you are feeling so much better these days. and grateful for Roxie to be there with you and your kitties.
Julie, I loved reading of the picnic you and Megan had the other day. Yesterday we ate outside and oh how wonderful it is to eat with nature. reminded me of a friend that loved picnics and would invite me to them rain or shine.
Jill, I hope your flowers are doing well and will bring you much happiness this season. The passing of loved ones is sad. I pray you will feel the hug of God , Jesus, or the Holy Spirit at just the right moment.
Robert, I thought of you too when the message was from a Korean pastor the other day. My granddaughter has requested the magazine Faces. It looks like it will be about people from different countries and stories that reflect different cultures. I have been listening to the Utube song UK Blessings song and it reminds me oh how we all wish for the blessings of God.
Rick, as you are completing your studies for the semester, I pray for strength during finals week and that you will be refreshed after a break to continue on. Happy Nurses’ Month!!
Andrea, I pray that all is going well with you and your daughter and family.
Gail, I so enjoy your comments.
Lou, may you and your family be safe, wherever you are whatever each is doing.
For all others in our UR Family, may you be safe and be blessed.
Thank you April- May you be safe and blessed.
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