“How are you feeling?” my friend asked.
“Numb . . . Spiritually. Emotionally. Mentally. I feel numb.”
Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you feel like you’re in a fog or heavy cloud. No matter how each of us describes it, the isolation is having a very real effect. Even as Christians, you and I know that to persevere in this new normal is hard. Where I live in northern California, even singing in church has been banned in some places – and no one knows for how long.
This morning, as I opened my Bible, I found myself reading Psalm 42, where the psalmist begins, “As a deer pants for water, so my soul pants for you, O God…” Yes! That’s what it feels like right now. The psalmist continues,
“My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!” (Psalm 42:4 NLT)
Do you hear the anguish of his soul? I know I am not the only one longing for the day when this will be over.
Can you imagine Satan’s delirious joy in all of this? From the beginning, our enemy seeks to divide and isolate us as believers. To weaken our faith and silence our voice. Imagine all the powers of darkness squealing with delight in thinking they have silenced the church. Thinking they have stolen our voice and torn God’s praises from our mouths. The enemy would love to have that kind of control over us – but the Word of God will never be silenced.
I love Jesus’s words in Luke 19: even if our voices are silenced, “the very rocks will cry out.” Hallelujah!
God Holds All the Power
No one: no governor, no kingdom, no power of darkness, not even Satan (who, next to God, is NOTHING) can silence God’s people from praising Him who lives forever and ever. We will persevere because the Word of God reminds us that, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”(1 John 4:4). Praise the Lord! There may be times when Satan thinks he has the upper hand, but he can do nothing apart from Him Who holds ALL authority in His sovereign hands.
Therefore, whether we gather together or are apart, you and I can boldly and joyfully sing praises to our King who was, and is, and is to come.
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” – Jesus (Luke 19:40)
If this article describes where you are right now, I would encourage you to consider my Bible study, LEGION: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me. Satan would love nothing more than for you and I to overestimate his power and underestimate God’s. This Bible study challenges our views of BOTH. As one reader puts it,
“I have always known that God was all powerful, but Shadia makes a case that God holds all power! Changed my way of thinking! I encourage anyone who likes to dig deep into God’s word to get this study. You won’t be disappointed!” – Sheryl
