"My grace is sufficient..." Thoughts on practicing faith in the context of a virus

"My grace is sufficient..." 

Thoughts on practicing faith in the context of a virus

Wednesday 11 March 2020
Jerusalem

Jerusalem as seen from the Promenade, March 2020

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

In Jerusalem, we are continuing to gather as usual for prayer, worship, and sharing the meal this week (taking appropriate health precautions, of course).

In Bethlehem and the rest of the occupied territories, things are much different for the next few weeks. Churches and mosques must be closed, along with schools and some businesses. Prayers must be done at home, in private, in quarantine, at least for now.

But I have been reflecting on how this is far from the first time Palestinian Christians have been restricted from gathering for worship together as a community. The faithful in Palestine have endured much over the past 50+ years, through intifadas and wars and walls and outside interference, and have had to adjust their way of practicing their faith as a result.

And still, they have steadfastly remained, steadfastly prayed, steadfastly praised God in the storm. Palestinians are some of the most creative people I have ever met.

We have much to learn from Palestinian Christians.

Whatever you decide in your context, keep praying. Keep praising! As I heard Pastor Angela Khabeb preach recently: 

"There are two times to praise God: when you feel like it, and when you don't."