Deserted…..

As the world tries to return to normal, we see the result of lockdown upon people. There have been titanic shifts in the world, within families, within relationships, and within ourselves. The effects of the mental anguish of the past few months are becoming visible. Curfews being imposed, churches not permitted to gather, yet rioting and looting, with thousands of people are permitted and tolerated. Churches are clamped down on, and America is ripped apart with riots. To me it is all a result of the pent up tensions, the mental anguish, of 3 months of strict home imprisonment, lockdown. Businesses are struggling. They must start again. Workers must look for work. But in all these things, they actually pale into insignificance, when relationships with people we have known for a long time are broken. It is the personal relationships that hurt the most. It is when people stop caring, that it hurts the most. Let us look at Biblical examples; Mth 5: 1 large crowds; Mth 26: 20 Jesus is with his inner group. Mth 26: 56 all his disciples left him. Ask yourself, what is harder; to go through the tough times on your own, or with people who have been with you from the start as in Mth 5: 1? But when the crises comes, you are on your own. Let us look at Paul. Gal 2: 9 Paul accepted as a friend, as part of the group. Acts 15: 38 close ones to Paul had deserted him. And then 2 Tim 4: 16 all deserted him. It is one thing to go through difficult times together. It is quite another thing that at the times we need people, that they desert us. What was this period of covid? It was so many things. Lessons will continue to be learnt from these 3 months when people went into themselves. Those that had no families, or broken families were alone and isolated. They assessed and reassessed things. They drove their minds in circles. They made decisions based on what they felt was right. And yet, all the time, ALL were under the duress of lockdown. Some decisions made, require reshuffling and resifting and redirection of work, family, school, church. The same situation has impacted us all. Some handled the recent lockdown of the world, specifically their own lives, with great inner strength trusting the same as Jesus, John 16: 32. In all things there is our spiritual relationship with God, and there is also our relationship with people close to us, friends and family. It is like the man who survived the covid lockdown, to finally get freedom, go out, and was hit by a bus and died. It is so tragic. Yet, with all the struggle and heartbreak, we must never lose sight of the LORD Jesus. You may have been kicked hard in the heart, abandoned, before or during or even coming out from under covid. We each have our own struggles and our own mountains. This is a sad and harsh thing to say- no one cares. We feel alone. We need someone to be with us; and yet, the LORD says, lean on me. It is a tension Pro 3: 5 and Pro 19: 20. Trust in the LORD, not yourself. Yet, seek counsel, and when it doesn’t come, you have no choice, but to make decisions on your own. It is a tough situation. I think betrayal is the worst possible sin. That someone you trusted, betrays you, it is a sin that is hard to get over. It got Judas killed. To be rejected, left alone, I think is the most heart-breaking of sins Pro 41:9. And it hurts, because of the previous closeness. As we all come out of covid lockdown, remember it’s not all going to be easy, nor will life be the same. You will have changed. People will have changed. There will be new things happening. If we focus on the hurts and disappointments, we will be eaten up on the inside. Yes, we may see people differently. Yes, they may see us differently. Sad to say, it is a part of life. May your coming out of covid lockdown, not be filled with too many hurts and pains. And always, the LORD is with you. Be strong.