I
t was dinner time when we found out that Washington had issued a “shelter in place” mandate. While we live in Idaho, Adam works in Washington. And Washington was the first of the two to issue the mandate. Like many of you who have these state rules right now, we were (and are) faced with the very real possibility that Adam may face a layoff depending on how long businesses are required to stay closed.
The short-term regularity of Adam’s paycheck is uncertain, my grad school has been put on hold, our finances feel stressful, we’ve just moved to a new state and don’t know many people…there still seems to be a massive shortage of toilet paper…
Every day our world and country is changing and shifting.
We’re being impacted by this pandemic just like everyone. We’re in the thick of this with you.
With the stress of finances, job losses, school closures, sicknesses, deaths, and the frantic nature of our society right now, it’s vital that we keep perspective.
For believers, this is not our destination or the end of our journey.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20
This is a small part of our story. Our time on earth is not our full story; It’s a blip. This is not our home; our true home is in heaven with our Savior.
Nothing is secure except Christ.
“You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security.” – Proverbs 3: 25-26a
Security can become such an idol. When we feel secure in our finances or our situation, we can easily begin to rely on ourselves, rather than grounding ourselves on the ONLY secure foundation.
This situation has made it really clear that NOTHING is secure other than Christ. Our hope will flutter away if we are focused on fleeting possessions or finances. We need to be completely and fully dependent on Christ, for He is true hope and true peace.
This is a time for us to be the church.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
In the midst of the present uncertainty, people are searching for answers. They are looking around to see how people are behaving and responding to this crisis. Are you perpetuating fear or do you have an unexplained peace? Are you showing Christ to those around you? Are you BEING the church?
This doesn’t mean that we can’t feel fear or be honest about the stresses. This isn’t about plastering on a fake smile or pretending that everything is fine.
We need to acknowledge those feelings and bring them to the Lord. Those around us even need to see that we are honest about what we are feeling. However, we do need to make sure that our fear or anxiety aren’t debilitating us or dictating our actions and behaviors and that we keep centering ourselves on Christ in the midst of the anxiousness and stress.
God is in Control
From a worldly perspective, it looks as if our government is holding the reins. And because of that, our country and world seem divided, filled with tension, and at odds.
But, those of us who are believers know that our president, governors, and senate leaders are not actually the ones in control. Our God is sovereign. He is the one who is in the driver’s seat.
God is intimately intertwined in everything that is happening and He has a plan.
Faith means actively trusting
“Peace, be still, Calm this soul, I need You here now, Restore my hope, I confess, I’ve been afraid, Remind my heart, Lord, Increase my faith, So I will run into the waves, As courage comes to take fear’s place, With perfect love, perfect love, O, what can take away, My hallelujah, No darkness can contain, My hallelujah, Your cross has made the way, For my hallelujah, No matter what, He is to be praised.” – Brian and Katie Torwalt
This song has become my anthem over the last few days. No matter the circumstance, our God is bigger. No matter the circumstance, He is to be praised. He deserves my hallelujah in the midst of what I don’t understand.
Even when we are lost in chaos and uncertainty, He is trustworthy.
This is an opportunity
This is no doubt a tense, scary time. With Christ as our rock though, we can step outside of the fear and take this as an opportunity to realign our priorities.
I would encourage you to take this time to lean on Christ, invest in your families, and remember Who is in control.
The beautiful thing about being married is that we can work through this as a team. Lean on one another, encourage each other, and unify with God as your center.
What new challenges to your perspective have you faced because of COVID? How are you handling them?
