It was last week, on one of those cold and frosty early mornings, whilst walking the dog (on my own) alongside Papercourt Lake just behind my house, that I noticed how calm and still everything was, especially the water. It reminded me of Psalm 23 where David says of the Lord, ‘He leads me beside still waters’. And in case we missed the point he repeats the phrase in the next verse, ‘He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake’.

What struck me, like never before, is that ‘He leads me’. God isn’t behind me yelling, ‘Go!’ He is ahead of me, bidding ‘Come!’ He is in front, clearing the path and showing the way. Just before the curve, he says, ‘Turn here.’ Prior to the rise, he motions, ‘Step up here.’ Standing next to the rocks, he warns, ‘Watch your step here.’ He leads us. He tells us what we need to know when we need to know it. As a New Testament writer would later affirm: ‘Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ (Heb 4:16).

We are currently walking though uncharted territory. The terrain is rough, unlevel and hard to negotiate and the destination is unclear. Certainly, new opportunities have opened up to us, and yet we recognise that people are experiencing a whole range of emotions as we self-isolate.

What a relief and comfort therefore to be reminded of these words from David’s Psalm.

God’s help is timely. God leads us. God will do the right thing at the right time. And what a difference that makes.

Every blessing,

Archdeacon Martin