Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Be Still, My Soul

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RESTORING OUR SOULS
He restores to my soul – Psalm 46:3

The word “restore” occurs throughout the Bible as a way of describing a return to health, a recovery of national sovereignty, a return to a former place, and a realization of God’s purposes for us. We need restoration as persons and as a nation – we need personal and national economic restoration, we need a restoration of hope in the future, we need a restoration of trust in our leaders, we need a return to some sense of normalcy and health beyond pandemic.

We need a restoration of soul perhaps more than anything else. We need a sense that God’s “deep peace” is within us and that “it is well with our souls.” Soul restoration, however, is not going back to the past or turning back the clock much as we might want to. Soul restoration is peace in this very moment in time. A peace grounded in the sense that we are not alone, that God is with us, and that our health takes us beyond self-interest to care for others and our planet.

Psalm 23 is quite realistic – we will hear about the “valley of the shadow of death” and a “table in the midst of enemies.” For the Psalmist restoration occurs within life’s struggles. Restoration emerges when we realize with Mother Julian of Norwich that “all will be well and all will be well and all manner of thing will be well.” Beyond tragedy and within tragedy, there is grace, comfort, and companionship of our friends and family and the One to Whom All Hearts are Open and All Desires Known.

Be still, my soul, for God is with us. God is in us. God’s love surrounds us and will bring us home to peace.

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Still my soul, Loving Companion, that I might experience peace in the storm. Trusting you for all that is good, let me face the wind and waves with grace, purpose, and love. Expand my soul to love without measure and with great joy all creation. Amen.

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Bruce Epperly is a Cape Cod pastor, professor, and author of over 50 books including FAITH IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC and GOD ON LINE: A MYSTIC’S GUIDE TO THE INTERNET