On our Knees
Well we are all glad that there’s some light at the end of
the tunnel for this second lockdown, with more
explanation of the three tiers yesterday, and more
announcement to come on Christmas on Thursday. But for
some businesses, it’s touch and go right now. I heard
yesterday the story1 of a pub owner in Middlesbrough
who has built up her business over 34 years. She has great
staff and great customers, and a real determination to
survive, but she said about the hospitality industry, “we
are on our knees right now”.
Well our hearts go out to business owners particularly in
restaurants, pubs, and cafes, who are really struggling
right now.
But there was something in what she said that made me
think. “We are on our knees right now”. Maybe she just
meant we are really struggling, and don’t know what’s
going to happen. But “on our knees” can also be a
reference to prayer.
It’s not that you have to pray on you knees, you can pray
while you cook the dinner, while you walk the dog, while
you wait for your computer to load up. Prayer is just
talking to God. But “on our knees” is exactly where we
should be right now.
The Archbishops of the Church of England have
encouraged Christians to pray for the nation this month,
with one idea being that we stop what we are doing at
6pm to pray for schools, the NHS, government leaders and
families on different days. And do you know what, they
have suggested that on Wednesdays we
pray for Businesses, the workplace and economic
wellbeing.
Jesus in his sermon on the mount said “Ask and you will
receive, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be
opened to you”(Matthew 7:7). There’s a mystery about
prayer, we have to trust God with the outcome, but
perhaps in part, God sends these difficult times to send us
to our knees, learning that even in the darkest of times,
there is a good Heavenly Father to whom we can come in
prayer as we put our trust in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Charlie Newcombe