unspoilable There’s an old adage that goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” And yet the idea of having plans seems almost absurd in an uncertain and rapidly changing global situation. We’ve invited a few friends to share their reflections on some of their spoilt plans—and how, in contrast, God’s plans are unspoilable.
Bekah Goodchild God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give away and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. (Ps 46:1–2 NIV) These words from the beginning of Psalm 46 have been a great source of hope for me over the past few weeks. In this time of uncertainty and fear, it can be easy to think a lot about what we’d be doing now if all were as it should be, to look at our diaries and calendars and feel utter despair at the sudden emptiness of the foreseeable future. But this verse from Psalms is a great reminder of who our God really is: He’s not only bigger than the sources of our present fears, but also bigger than anything in our lives, full stop.
Bekah is a first year French and German student at Lincoln. She enjoys (uni)cycling and climbing and also likes playing piano more than her neighbors like to hear it. ▶
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Christians can instead see this time, which has been stripped of much of the usual hustle and bustle that can otherwise overwhelm our lives, as a challenge to see God and our relationship with Him in new ways. COVID-19 can take away what can feel like so much of our lives, but the refuge and strength that we find in God, the fact that Jesus died for our sins out of love for us, and our inheritance as His children, can never be taken away; it can never perish, spoil, or fade. So, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, the help God offers to us is ever-present. Our hope in Jesus Christ can never be cancelled and will never postponed; He will always provide strength. We will always find refuge in Him. He will never leave us or forsake us.
