The afternoon finally began to cool off and I breathed a sigh of relief. We made it. The harsh midday heat of another day has passed.
You see, it’s the hot season here in the mountains. Over the next few months until the rains come, temperatures reach above 40 degrees Celsius from 11-4pm in the day. During those hours, I try and keep myself and the kids sheltered.
Today, as I gave thanks for making it through another hot day, I remembered a clear invitation from the Lord on another hot day 4 years ago. We were living in the refugee camp in a tent with our 4-month-old. It is an understatement to say that the tent was a poor shelter from the heat.
That day the invitation was simple but has never been forgotten, a soft voice within said,
Come and shelter in My presence.
This evening, as news of the Corona pandemic continues to cause fear and confusion worldwide and as a hospital team we start to make plans for how we will manage the Corona situation here, should it come to the mountains, I return to His invitation to shelter in His presence.
You see, as the main referral hospital for around 1 million people there is very little we can do if Corona reaches here. Despite our best efforts, our infection control measures leave a lot to be desired. Electricity is scarce – the current hospital system is having issues with faulty solar panels. Right now, my husband is scrambling to set up an ad-hoc system for power so we can run a few oxygen concentrators until new solar panels get here.
We cannot find rest in our own ability to fix or manage things.
However, when we feel less in control we are drawn closer to Him who actually is in control. For no matter how poor our earthly shelter is, we know that our God has promised He shall be a sanctuary, a sacred, indestructible shelter for those who fear and trust Him. (Isaiah 8:14 AMP)
That’s something we all need daily. But we are more aware of this need on those days when there’s rain or heat, trouble or fear.
He has promised that in the day of trouble He will keep us safe in his dwelling; He will hide us in the shelter of His sacred tent and set us high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5).
His presence is this sacred tent.
And in this tent, we remember what He has done and where our Jesus is seated.
And that despite the physical storm, we can go through it, seated together with Him.
For our Jesus has ascended to heaven and now sits on the throne, at the right hand of the Father.
And we are promised that He who sits on the throne will shelter us with His presence (Revelation 7:15).
My friends, let Him shelter you with His presence.
Let His Word reign over fear.
Come into His sanctuary.
No matter where in the world you are right now, you can enter this safe place through His finished work of the Cross. He is your hiding place, your sacred tent, your indestructible shelter.
May I finish with the final words of Psalm 121.
The LORD watches over you –The LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm –He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
Amen
Grace and Peace
Hope
Hallelujah in the Mountains 