I am the Lord and there is none beside me.

God’s sovereignty during COVID

“I am the Lord and there is none beside me,” Isaiah 43. This is one of the most wonderful chapters in all of scripture. (Of course, I say that about a lot of chapters.)

But what draws me to this particular chapter is how many times God draws attention to his own lordship. God is not capable of arrogance as these words would sound coming from human lips.

I am the Lord and there is none beside me/handrawn flowers

He’s doesn’t repeat this time after time for his own benefit but for ours.

He is reminding us that he and he alone deserves to be called the one and only Lord.

He goes on to recount his creation of all living things on this earth, we humans in particular. Paul quotes Isaiah 9b, “Will the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing?” In Romans 9: 20-21, it states that we are his to shape and mold as he sees fit without question.

Giving up control isn’t easy

To give someone else control isn’t easy. Giving our government control over our actions right now isn’t easy. None of us like being told where we can or cannot go.

But maybe we can use this restriction on our lives as a way to remind us that this is how we are supposed to place ourselves in the Potter’s hands to do with as he wishes.

Think of this portion of scripture the next time you bristle about your restrictions and confinement. Let those feelings of irritation remind us ,remind me, that we are usually wrangling with God over these same control issues.

God’s molding of us will only draw us closer to him and his purpose for our lives, no matter how much we dislike being squeezed.

Right relationship with God important

If we are not in the right relationship with God, he will have to continue taking us back to that starting point as a rough lump of clay. We will have to remold us all over again, many times over. There is an optimal time to be molded.

Doesn’t it make sense to cooperate with him the first time around?

I am the Lord and there is none  beside me/sunflower

Let’s allow God to really shape us during this shut-down. Let’s think through our reactions about giving up control and try and determine if we treat God this way sometimes. Is there a correlation? Can we learn from this how it feels to give God control?

I wonder why we are all looking for something to do. But I wonder, why are we trying to occupy every minute?

Taking time to reflect

I’m guessing it’s because we’re scared and being busy helps. But I’m not sure that’s so good. So while I, too, am getting bored and want to fill every moment, I’m also trying to make sure I have plenty of contemplative time. I want to think about this crisis and how it can make me stronger in my faith walk.

Yes, it’s probably our way of dealing with this pandemic. But maybe now is the time to sit back and just reflect. We need to speak those word out loud, “I am the Lord and there is none beside me. “

What about you? Are you taking time during this quarantine to simply think?

I know I am. I can truthfully say, COVID has promoted some good changes in my life.

God bless and stay safe.

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