How did we get here? One minute life is normal, maybe hectic, but normal. We all had our own version of what normal is. Maybe yours was waking up super thankful every day and hitting the ground running. Maybe it was one of boredom and asking yourself if this is all there is. Maybe you were just going through the motions of life and trying to make it through to the next paycheck. Maybe your normal was all of those things, until…
Two words. Global pandemic.
Wait? What? How? One day everything was “normal” and then the next, everything is upside down and sideways. Now, if you are like most people around the world, you are wishing, praying, and hoping that the normal you once had, makes a comeback.
But what if what you feel is happening TO you, is happening FOR you?
I get it. It feels like this is happening to you. In ways it is. Your life is now different. That you didn’t ask for this. I think if we are honest, deep down we all kind of feel that way. We didn’t ask for this, but yet, here we are.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am going to be very clear about this. God did NOT cause this virus to come to us, and He certainly is not about wanting people to die, BUT, what if He WAS able to use this crisis to wake us up. To cause us to be still. To stop us in our tracks. To remember how precious even one breath is. To rely on Him, because everything else is uncertain and unreliable.
You are working all things for my good.
You are working all things for my good
When I cannot see it, God I still believe it
You are working all things for my good
David & Nicole Binion – “All Things”
Romans 8:28 shows us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” It doesn’t say all things ARE good. It says He works all things together FOR our good. So how can we see the good in the midst of rising death tolls, constant concern over whether our loved ones or our own selves will catch this dreaded virus?
We make the choice. Or choices.
We can choose to focus on God and His sovereignty. We can choose to stand on His promises. We can choose to pray and not panic. We can choose faith over fear, knowing that fear and condemnation do not come from the Lord. We can choose to be still. We can choose to look for ways to help others in the midst of their suffering and trials. We can choose to put our phones down and finally be present. We can choose to shut off the news and open our Bibles and let God speak into our situation.
While this is a scary, unpredictable, uncertain time for all of us, I believe God is using this time to give us a gift. Modern-day miracles. We tend to think miracles only happened way back when, but miracles are happening around us every day.
- You woke up this morning, with air in your lungs and able to breathe…without a ventilator.
- Your children were able to sit at the table and do their lessons, even if it’s a major disruption to your daily life. It could be worse…much worse.
- Your spouse woke up and was able to go to work for another day, and even if he couldn’t because of a closure, he woke up.
- Even though you heard of more deaths on the news (because that is what the media focuses on), there were countless miracles of the many who recovered today.
- You were able to go to the grocery store or pharmacy because of the essential employees who are working tirelessly to maintain some sense of normalcy for their customers.
- You thanked a doctor, nurse, or any other person on the frontlines for what they are doing to help…even though you normally take that for granted.
- You opened your Bible, listened to a worship song, prayed, and maybe just maybe realized that God was with you all along and that you needed Him more than you ever realized.
Miracles. They do exist. We don’t even have to look that far. Look in the mirror. Never take that for granted again. The mere fact you can do that means that you have life left in you. Be grateful.
Believe me, I am not minimizing what is going on at all. There are people and families that are going through hell on earth right now. Yes, we all have reasons to be scared right now. Our health could change at any moment and/or our finances. Life as we know it could take a turn for the worse, but based on what we do know, more than likely if you or a loved one were to contract this virus, it would turn out ok. But what we see on social media is all about what is closed or not closed, the aspects of our normal life that have changed and now have inconvenienced us and we don’t like it. And in all transparency, I don’t like it either. But the alternative? I’ll take the inconvenience.
When we come out on the other side, and we will, what do you want your life to look like? Do you really want your life to go back to “normal” or do you want to live a life that says, “God, I am thankful for what I went through because, without it, I would not have known how much I took for granted.”
What we are going through as individuals, families, communities, countries, and the world is not easy. The truth is that we do not know what will happen. There is tremendous and profound sadness, coupled with uncertainty. No doubt about that. What we do know is far greater than what we don’t. God is in control and even though we may not see it, we can still believe it. He is working all things for our good.
I am sharing this song in hopes that it will bless you as it has blessed me. Be well, be blessed, and be awesome!
