In the past few weeks, most of the world has been turned upside down in the midst of the Coronavirus/covid-19 pandemic.
No one saw it coming, and no one could have predicted this.
As much as I am saddened by what is going on around us, I am not surprised.
Here is why.
In life whether you are a Christian or not, there WILL be obstacles. There will be times of storms and trials. This is apart of life. There is no escaping it.
As much we try to understand it, and why this is happening, we never will.
It’s a hard thing to accept. You begin to truly realize that WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL of our plans. Our spring break may be cancelled, our schools shut down, our jobs may even be put on hiatus.
While all or any one of those things is disappointing, it shouldn’t shake you to your core.
God is the one in control, and NOT US.
Now more than ever (hopefully) people are coming to this realization.
If your main complaint is that a sports season was cancelled, or that you can’t get your twice monthly-manicures, then you are faring much better than most people right now and really need a reality check.
Society today places so much value on our extra-curricular involvements, jobs and achievements, that it may very well take a quarantine to slow our life down and show us how little we ACTUALLY control. That our “obligations” are totally non-essential and can be cancelled at a moments notice. This seems fine, until that all gets taken away and people suddenly don’t know HOW TO COPE OR SLOW DOWN.
Your job may be cut, your life can be turned upside down because, we are NOT GUARANTEED anything in this life.
I hope that in this time, as hard as it may be for some, that it reveals to you the areas you placed the most value in. At the end of the day when those are stripped away, are you happy with your life? If the answer is no, then maybe you need to ask God about that. We aren’t meant to cling to things of this world so tightly that we lose sight of what God calls us to be. The fruit of the spirit piece of scripture is the perfect example. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness,gentleness, self-control.” -Gal. 5:22-23 ESV
Our world will always have chaos, and ups and downs. When you realize this, you won’t be surprised WHEN a storm comes your way, because you will KNOW that it come and that the only way to weather these storms is with the strength and peace that only Jesus can provide.
As people hoard hand sanitizer, toilet paper, rubbing alcohol, loaves of bread and sacks of rice, I’m sure that in their hearts they will feel a void, because those things won’t give you peace or make this storm any calmer.
Get down on your knees and pray. Pray to know the peace and strength that comes from Jesus, and never take a day for granted.
If we are complaining on social media how our travel plans were cancelled, our sports season postponed, we should realize that there are nurses and doctors on the front lines of this ever evolving virus putting themselves at risk. They don’t get to complain about those things because its their job to be helping people. That realization doesn’t make DOING their job any easier. When they have to question coming home to families that they have left due to potentially exposing them, that’s when we have something to be vocal about. Not about not going to the Disneyland in two weeks.
Have perspective because often in life, even in the midst of these uncertain times, there IS SOMEONE WHO HAS IT WORSE than the “problems” you have.
Don’t be fooled into the notion that because you are faced with adversity that it is a result of your faith, or lack of faith. “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt. 5:45 ESV
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3 ESV
This piece of scripture doesn’t say IF you meet trials, it says WHEN. We are promised so many things by God, love, forgiveness, salvation, protection, endurance, and the promise of preserving through trials.
We need to trust God in His plan for us all, because through our trials that build our faith and expose areas of ourselves we aren’t proud of or would choose to talk about, we are refined by them. Like gold being put into the fire to be purified. Those tests are working for us and with a purpose THAT ONLY HE KNOWS. It’s ok to not know the master plan, because we trust the master.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ESV
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to not harm you, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Nothing can separate us from the love of God, not the coronavirus, not even the sins we commit, NOTHING. Take comfort in that truth and realize that even though this may be inconvenient, scary, and life-altering, that He is never away from us.
God knows the path of our lives and has you placed right where we need to be. I pray that in these times that instead of pointing out on what we THINK we are missing out on, that we are GRATEFUL for what we DO have right now; even if we don’t understand it.
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