If you’re like me, your life has been completely discombobulated. Yes, I looked up how to spell that. The dictionary is still working, despite the threat of a virus, thank goodness!
How we work, how our kids go to school, our church gatherings...I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that protecting ourselves from this virus has drastically changed how we are able to interact with each other. Streets are quiet, the office (when we do go in) is quiet, parking lots are empty, restaurants are dark, people are losing hours, or losing their jobs completely, and it’s become really hard to say hello to the Amazon delivery guy. Even the playgrounds have just become reminders of the fun we could be having, but aren’t allowed to right now. As much as we’ve tried to control how much screen time we all are consuming, it’s now become a necessary function more than a form of entertainment. It’s...lonely.
But…
Let’s turn this around a little. A new perspective maybe. This really struck me when one of my coworkers shared that he’s thankful this pandemic happened in the era it has. In the past...even 20 years ago, we would have been severely more limited than we are now. We are increasingly more tech savvy. We live in a time where we can all connect via video calls, cell phones, email. We can access our computers remotely, or, even better, have our laptops at home with us. We can gather with our church ONLINE! What?!
At my house, we’ve actually gotten to know our neighbors better. Everyone’s outside when it’s nice...and since all the indoor activities are closed, we all stay home and play in our front yards. Novel idea, right? My daughter has a couple new friends in the neighborhood now!
Being stuck in the house working all the time has given us new motivation to go outside and hang out with the kids. And you know what? They’re amazing kids. Gabe is 12 and does such a great job with his 5-year-old sister Ava. They’ve done so well that they’re not even asking for their tablets...something we thought would never happen. It’s made us wonder what we’ve done wrong all this time!
We’ve got more time at home. I have more time to put a good meal on the table each night now. Mornings have ceased to be hectic, even with e-learning going on. The house is even staying cleaner! The ease of the mornings may be enough to make my husband and I work from home all the time! :) We haven’t gotten to the point where we’re driving each other crazy yet...I’ll get back to you on that.
Now, I know I’m probably not telling you anything earth-shattering. If you look at social media, there is a lot of encouragement in the midst of this pandemic, too. It’s amazing, and humbling, how a pandemic can bring out the best in people. But...help for this kind of thing is in our Bible too. The writer of James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
I think I would consider rearranging our lifestyles to protect ourselves from a HUGE trial, wouldn’t you? A test of patience, the ability to adapt, our will, our strength to keep it together. God is telling us that we should consider it pure joy to face these things head on. God’s given us a trial to teach us to have faith in God—that He is in control, and this is all part of His plan. And that in that testing of our faith, we gain perseverance in all kinds of crazy situations. Pandemic and otherwise.
God is doing something here. Coronavirus, while it might not seem like something meant to bless us, is a means to an end for God. I do NOT deny that terrible things have also happened because of this. God doesn’t overlook them either. But this scary situation we’re in right now could push more of us to follow Jesus, and that...that is what He wants. He wants to save us from our sin so much, that He gave His own son to die in our place— to pay the wages of our sin with His life— 2000 years ago. And now, Coronavirus plays a small part in His grand plan— to make us look to Him.
Whether you’re feeling scared, or lonely, defeated, or even if you’re happy as a lark, God wants you to let Him in. God wants you to be with Him. Just tell Him He can have it all—your worries, doubts, insecurities, everything you hide from the outside world. Give it all up and let Him lead you. Coronavirus or not, you won’t have to handle all the chaos on your own. Be thankful that God wants you, take His hand and follow Him. With God, you can be strong enough to navigate through the dark cloud that seems to hang over us right now. Take the opportunity.
And if you can tell me how to keep an Ava occupied while we work, I could use the help, too.