In the Midst…
Information overload… Day after day, new reports of the pandemic gripping the world surfaced, leaving everyone in a complete tailspin.
What didn’t seem to register in the early days as I watched the images unfold, was the magnitude of this event.
I was surprised and bewildered by the reactions of the people around me.
My spirit felt unsettled, yet I couldn’t quite articulate the emotions that rumbled beneath the surface.
One afternoon I spent a few minutes browsing a POTS Facebook page with content designed to provide support and connection to folks in similar circumstances to mine.
A lump began to form in my throat as I read a single post, that summed up my thoughts and the view became clear…
I was cruising down the highway of resentment!
For over two years, I have been living a “quarantined” existence and as I watched the world adjust to this crisis, it began sprouting ugliness within me.
Suddenly, because everyone was experiencing the same thing, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being became a top priority.
Social media became a hub of activity, a place for people to interact.
Churches reached beyond the walls with more creativity than ever before and families began using this time to build bridges of connectivity.
With my sin now painfully identified, I asked the Lord’s forgiveness and quickly rerouted my thoughts toward action.
I prayed for peace and guidance to move away from my reactionary feelings to helping others grasp this “new normal.”
The Holy Spirit was quick to remind me that I have been given a unique opportunity; a voice to call for HOPE in the midst of the chaos.
If I can offer any perspective from my years as a shut-in, it is this…
Place your trust in God alone.
When trust in Christ becomes our primary objective, then we are rooted in steadfast faith.
Trials may come from every angle but when we are firmly planted, even the smallest blessing becomes magnified.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose HOPE is the LORD, for he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, and does not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit. ”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8, NASB)
Now, I obviously haven’t mastered this lesson.
Remember, I just admitted that resentment crept in because I saw people caring for each other on social media.
Woah!! Seriously?!
Trust, for me, has not been a one and done type of thing. I have to steer my thoughts daily, in EVERY circumstance.
TRUST God with… My health, yep! My marriage, yep! My awkwardness in reaching out to others when I know I should, absolutely 100%, yes!
I understand this year has been difficult, and it has impacted each of us differently; for some, it has added a unique set of challenges, perhaps a new way of conducting business or social interaction.
Others have dealt with financial struggles, health challenges, and loss. And yet for some this year hasn’t altered much about your everyday life.
When we are mindful about where our trust is placed, the messiness of life doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
Yes, the problems are still there, but God becomes much larger and the blessings being poured out are plentiful when we choose to adjust our view.
So, dear reader, let me ask you if your “quarantined” existence continues, do you TRUST God with EVERY area of your life?