Here we are standing together in a new world today. Notifications on our phones are constantly alerting us in our world filled with rapid fire updates. How many new cases, how many cases and deaths today and what new restrictions have been issued based on the advancement of this virus.
Our souls can only handle so much and mine has been filling up quickly. I remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
I have learned throughout my life experiences to pay close attention to my soul gauge. It grabs my attention and pulls me back around to seek refuge and comfort in Jesus’ words.
Two weeks ago, prior to talks of quarantine and social distancing (how quickly that all changed), one of my grandson’s had a sleep over at our cabin in the woods. As all eight boys arrived with several cousins in tow, I stood still as they entered the house. It looked like someone had kicked an ant pile, they were all running everywhere and I quickly realized someone had started a game of tag. But this time was different. When the shouts of “tag – you’re it, you have corona virus” rung out, I was stunned. Apparently cooties no longer hold rank.
These boys are 8 and 9.
The running continued as I herded them outside and the game went on.
Their fear of “getting tagged with the corona virus” was motivating them to run their hardest.
My eighteen year old senior grandson is set to graduate in May. He was 29 days old when 9/11 happened. Four years old when hurricane Katrina changed our world again. There is so much uncertainty in his world right now.
I remember when I was in early elementary school. The day President Kennedy was assassinated and the world turned upside down remains a clear memory. I don’t remember all the dates or how the order of historical events unfolded, but I do remember the drills we had in preparation for the US to be attacked by missiles and nuclear weapons. The alarm would sound and we would crawl under our desks and wait. We huddled in little balls waiting for the announcement to come over the loudspeaker letting us know it was a drill. I remember the nuclear fallout shelters in place all around our little town.
Today, our enemy is silent. We cannot see it, hide from it, build an armory for protection or aggressively defend ourselves with weapons.
Today, we can pray. We can stand united in our efforts to quarantine ourselves to prevent exposure. We can choose to protect our loved ones from carrying the silent killer to them. We can choose to protect ourselves wisely to eliminate our own exposure and illness. We do so to keep from becoming a statistic in the hospital and keeping beds open for others who have succumbed to the illness. I don’t want to be – nor does anyone else want to be – a statistic.
Personally, I am sheltered in my home in the woods, an hour from my family, with my two dogs and Sam the cat.
So. Now what?
Philippians 1:12-14 Paul is writing “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Can we find purpose through this scripture to see how there can be good come of this time in history? Do you find yourself able to share the spiritual peace you find in your relationship with God? Are you taking the lead in your community of family, neighbors, friends and online communities to be a voice of hope? Are you boldly facing the silent enemy we are fighting? Do you speak with confidence about the warfare and the victory God has already won for us as believers and followers of Christ?
Are you confident in your faith?
When we as little innocent children crawled under our desks, we were confident we would be protected from attacks coming from Cuba. I grew up in western Pennsylvania but had no understanding of how far away Cuba was. We believed our teachers. They knew our desks offered no protection. The drill was designed to give us peace of mind.
This is no drill. Life has suddenly smacked us straight in the face. Our own mortality and vulnerability is unavoidable these days. The thing is – it always has been – but we choose to live as though we are immortals. Facing the reality is what has so many people living in fear now. We have fallen and face planted smack in the middle of our own mortality.
Fear is possibly the greatest weapon our enemy has.
Even today as adults, we find a proverbial desk to hide under. Maybe work, addictions, children and grandchildren provide that layer of false protection or distraction for us.
I miss seeing my grandchildren and holding and hugging them.
Maybe in these days, we are with our families full time. Homeschooling (crisis schooling is a term I saw today) isn’t a role you ever saw coming. Preparing twenty-one meals a week isn’t the norm for most of us.
What can we do in these uncertain times?
Paul talked to the Philippians about the uncertainty of their times and the fear they had because he was imprisoned. He turned their focus to watching how God used that time to bring an awareness to the world of His presence in our world. He applauded them on their boldness to step forward, out of their sheltered lives they had when he was with them and proclaim Jesus to the world.
I believe this is our time. Even though we are living in “sheltered-in-place” times, may we be bold in proclaiming the life we know living sheltered in the arms of Jesus.
The news of the hour is ruthless.
May we find a place of refuge in God our Father.
Isaiah 25:4 “For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress. A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall.”
Psalm 59:16 “But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning. For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.”
Google – “scriptures about shelter” and make your own list of scriptures that speak hope to you. Do you have trouble knowing what to pray? Pray the scriptures that touch your heart.
Talk to God. He waits for you to call to Him. Find your rest and hope and joy in Him alone.
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
“Father, God, we come humbly before You in this moment. Please God, come close. Come near to our brokenness and press Your presence upon our hurting and fearful hearts. We don’t know what to expect in this world, Lord, but we know You are present in all our todays and tomorrows. May we be bearers of Your hope and peace. Empower us to come out from under those feeble “desks” we have been hiding under for protection. We love You, Lord. Amen”
Our pastor, Waylon Bailey, challenged us all in our lesson this week to pray this scripture of hope at 7:14 a.m. and 7:14 p.m. If you are searching for encouragement and spiritual messages to fill your empty soul, please visit our church website at www.fbccov.org You can find archived sermons that will water your dry places, heal and fill your hurting soul.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
My book was published six months ago. The response has been so sweet. You can continue to my website www.janethines.com to purchase and it can be found on Amazon. Let me know what you think and my prayer is for you to move closer to God in every day life. Finding Him there keeps us balanced and growing closer to Him in these uncertain times.
