Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ps. 43:5
Heavenly Father, it the midst of feeling kind of “funky” this morning, it feels so good to be certain of your glad welcome, heart of encouragement, and perpetual kindness. Unlike us, you’re never down or weary. You never mutter, “Whatever,” or “Meh.” But I do, and that’s the attitude I woke up with on this Friday.
Taking on David’s questions, why am I downcast and a bit disturbed? The best I can tell, it’s coming from the backwash and backlash of the past few months. So much has changed. So many things are different than I planned for the summer of 2020.
And then there’s the experience of driving around Nashville yesterday on a common errand. It’s hard to wrap my head around seeing so many people going about their business mask-less, carefree, and neighbor-indifferent.
Father, I don’t believe in “mask-wearing-righteousness.” The only thing I’m wearing that makes me righteous is Jesus’ righteousness. But you tell us to steward our freedom for loving well—not for flaunting our rights or defending our turf (Gal. 5:13). Personal politics is one thing, but sensible politeness is a Gospel-reality.
My hope isn’t in a post-COVID world; but in you, Father, and Jesus’ kingdom. You’re at work in ways we’ll only understand later. I confess my bad attitude, but even more passionately, I confess and delight in Jesus—the author and perfecter of our faith; the Lamb of God, and Lord of lords; our reigning King and returning Bridegroom. So very Amen, period.