Churches Column: We need Answers! Is God there at all?

Revd Pep Hill addresses some of the questions many people will have as we struggle with Covid-19
Revd Pep Hill.Revd Pep Hill.
Revd Pep Hill.

Will we be able to go on holiday? Or maybe more importantly, will we be able to get back?! Will there be a second spike here? How can I wear a mask round Aldi without my glasses fogging up?

We may be out of lockdown, but there are still so many questions. Will the vaccine come in time? Can you catch Covid-19 twice? Will my vulnerable mother ever be able to live a ‘normal’ life again?

I can’t quite believe I’d ever say this but I’m missing the government press conference each day - the reassurance from the experts, the graphs that show how everything’s getting better, the promises of more financial help for those in need.

But the best bit of those sessions were the general public’s questions at the end – forget all these generalities, what about the nitty-gritty, practical issues we’re facing?

Of course, it’s not realistic to expect our government, health experts or any other leaders to have all the answers to questions we’ve only just started asking – these things take time. But it is part of our make up to question and at this time, we may be asking questions of God too.

Why has he allowed so many to die? Why is it (again) the poor and already marginalised who have suffered the most?

Why doesn’t he do something? We need a vaccine! Doesn’t he care?!

Maybe the biggest question of all – is God there at all?

You will assume (correctly!) that my answers to these questions are that, yes, he cares - enough to give up everything for us, otherwise I would not have given up my comfy life as a finance lawyer in Jersey to become a minister!

But each one of us needs to find our own answers, and each one of us will have different questions.

I think of one young mum whose biggest question was ‘Am I really worth loving?’, an older person whose question was ‘Is what I’ve believed all my life actually true?’ and countless people asking things like, is this all there is? I’ve retired, what now? I want a deeper spirituality? How can I have hope?

In all these cases, answers don’t necessarily come quickly (we humans are complex creatures) but I have seen God answer in all sorts of ways, and the peace and joy that comes from knowing God and trusting the love he has for each one of us, is more real than anything I’ve experienced.

Revd Pep Hill is Associate Priest in the Harborough Anglican Team.

If you have questions, why not think about joining an Alpha course? These are run by various churches in the town; The Harborough Anglican Team will be running one online in the Autumn, please see the Churches Together website www.harboroughchurches.org.uk for more information.

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