By Howard Eyrich
Editor’s Note: I have asked a few of my biblical counseling friends and leaders to provide a word of encouragement to us over the month of April. This series begins with Dr. Howard Eyrich who is a great friend, biblical counselor, pastor, and author. You will be richly blessed by his words below.
Just today my son shared this story with me related to this pandemic.
My seventeen-year-old daughter came into my bedroom to say good night. Her face showed her emotions. I asked, “What is wrong?” Her reply was typical of a teen. “Oh nothing!” I touched her cheek and said, “Sweetheart, there is something.” She sighed, “Well, you just told us at dinner we cannot see anyone for probably at least a month. I know is it not your fault, but it sucks.”
If you have children, especially teens, the COVID-19 is working a number on them. Let me encourage you to mediate on Psalm 63, absorb the message and then around the dinner table walk your family through it age-appropriately.
The Historical Setting
King David was in self-isolation in the wilderness during the coup of his son Absalom. He lived in the wilderness before as a young man hiding from Saul. But now he was an older man who was used to living with all the conveniences that being King afforded him.
Here you might make the point to your children that their being deprived of their usual amenities of life to which they are accustomed is a God-given opportunity to enhance their gratefulness for the Lord’s granting them the multitude of blessings which is their norm.
How to Live by Faith in the Wilderness
Now, lead your family through the Psalmist’s legacy of how to live by faith in the wilderness—which is for now, our social isolation.
There are seven pithy guidelines. You should read each verse(s) and then lead your children in a discussion. Of course, these guidelines are for you too and the children should observe you modeling them and be comforted that God is our ever-present help (Psalm 46:1).
- Seek God in the dry land (Psalm 63:1)
- Seek God to see His power and glory (Psalm 63:2)
- Seek God because of His lovingkindness (God’s never-ending faithfulness) (Psalm 63:3)
- Seek God to bless Him and worship Him (Psalm 63:4)
- Seek God to be satisfied and give praise with your mouth (Psalm 63:5)
- Seek God when you are most likely to struggle (Psalm 63:6)
- Seek God and experience victory (Psalm 63:7-10)
This Advice Works for All of Us
I set this devotional in the family because one of the great blessings of this COVID-19 isolation that I have observed is family togetherness. I have seen many families walking the trails in our neighbor and Dads playing ball with children and fishing at the lakes. I have seen families standing on the sidewalks talking to neighbors sitting on their porches (yes, we don’t live in New York City). This devotional is an encouragement to capture the isolation time for spiritual enhancement within families. However, obviously this God-given and preserved truth is just as important and real for couples and singles.
Practicing these means of seeking God will transform our depressive self-pity moods into the joy of the Lord (Psalm 63:11). For us, “the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped” are our thoughts which prompt us to sadness, anger and depression.
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