Grace amidst lamentations

We are living in unprecedented times, with the outbreak of the Corona virus affecting all nations around the world. In the UK we have seen all large & small social gatherings being cancelled, and now places like hotels, cafes, bars & sports centres are also closed.

We are now practicing social isolation and distancing to try and slow down the infection rate of Covid-19.

This has had an effect on the work we do at Llandudno Youth for Christ in the way that we share the good news of Jesus with young people, but it has in no ways stopped us from continuing with our mandate to reach out to young people with God’s love.

For example, last night, where we would normally have our Sunday evening Bible Study for young people in the Ty Llywelyn Community Centre, we instead held and online meeting using a multi-user video conferencing software called Zoom. The meeting went really well and there were no major technical teething problems.

We are going to continue to find more and more creative ways to meet up with and input into the lives of young people in an online format, and of course we will continue to pray for the young people and for our nation during this time of so much social change.

Thinking of the ways in which the outbreak has forced people to stay at home, makes me think of the book of Lamentations, where the writer, Jeremiah laments the dire situation the nation of Israel has fallen into.

“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.” – Lamentations 1:1.

The streets are quite deserted now, with people in self-isolation, but in this time of upheaval and change, just like Jeremiah, let us not forget that God is the God of redemption, restoration, mercy & love.

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:19-23

So like the write of Lamentations, we will continue to pray and wait for the Lord, for our hope is in Him. Our young people’s hope is in Him too. Let’s continue to trust in the goodness of God at this time. Let’s continue to be salt & light in our communities.

Thank you and be blessed!