Divine Power in the Midst of a Storm
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
When things are going well in our lives, it’s easy for us to think we’re in control. When we have a wholesome marriage or relationship. When we have a job that brings in a good amount of income. When we have a good group of friends and a loving family. And then, a microscopic virus hits and brings the world to its knees. Companies have shut down. Thousands are now without a job. Sporting events have been canceled. Grocery stores struggle to keep up with the public’s demands. And students from schools and universities forced to depart, leaving most unprepared to say goodbye to their friends and teachers. Even weddings, graduations, and vacations have been either postponed or canceled completely. The Coronavirus has brought grief and financial difficulties for many, and an absolute change in the daily lives of us all. My heart goes out to all the people who have lost family, friends, and jobs during this crisis.
To all the men and women who work endless hours, pushing themselves to their limits at all the hospitals and clinics. To all the men and women in the armed forces, who have set up infirmaries for the sick, to ease the stress of overwhelmed hospitals. To all the care workers who take care of the ill, elderly, and disabled. To all the men and women employees who continue to restock the shelves with supplies in our time of need. To all the men and women who drive long hours to deliver the essential materials and packages we receive. And to all the people who volunteer to give away supplies to those who need them. Words cannot express the amount of gratefulness I feel for you all, I simply cannot thank you enough for your kind heart and willingness to serve. I’m also thankful to those who take this situation seriously and make the sacrifice to stay home. Thereby helping to protect themselves and others, all while slowing the spread. They say not all heroes wear capes, and you all have made that statement even stronger.
We need to realize that this virus is dangerous for everyone. It attacks the rich, poor, young, old, the unknown, and the famous. And death doesn’t discriminate, between the saved and unsaved. As Americans, let us not abuse our rights to be free. The act to stay home is not taking away our freedom, it’s meant to be an act of responsibility. If our soldiers can leave American soil to fulfill their duties and be on the front lines to protect us as citizens, then why can’t we as citizens rise above and fulfill our responsibilities to protect each other.
In times like these, we need to be alert, not fearful. Fear is just as contagious as any virus and it’s easily transmitted. There are endless articles about the number of deaths per day. Articles that say wear gloves but not masks. Wear masks but not gloves. Even questioning is the virus that serious. With all of that being swirled together, it turns into a mass amount of ignorance, confusion, and most of all fear. “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering”-Yoda. These are not just wise words from a fictional character it’s true. If we allow fear to control us, we start hating, being selfish, and blaming other people. Let us not use this time to fear. Let us use this time to finally wake up and focus on what’s important. I encourage you to reach out to your family and friends. Tell them that you care for them. Tell them you cherish them. But above all, tell them that you love them. For what excuse can you make? "I have plans", "not now", "I’m busy". One of our problems is we like to hold off until a holiday or birthday to let someone know when they’re appreciated. Why wait? Why not start now? Shouldn’t we know by now that life is not guaranteed?
How many more months of quarantine do we have to do? When will this all end? Personally, I don't know the answer to these questions. But what I do know is, no matter what happens God is still on the throne. He will not leave or forsake us. Even with all the pain and suffering from this, numerous things give us hope. We’re spending more time with our families. We’re learning more about ourselves. We’re becoming homemakers. Traffic is lighter. The air and waters are cleaner. And even abortions are at an all-time low. This pandemic is allowing us to slow down, pause, and reflect in prayer.
The year 2020 is far from over, but it will be a year we will all remember. A time of a great magnitude of disruption throughout the world. But it will also be remembered as the year that a great storm has come but will not last, along with divine healing not just for us, but for the environment as well.
There will be church gatherings again. There will be reunions again. There will be parties, concerts, and sporting events again. But instead of jumping back into the normal way of life unchanged, we need to come back into life stronger with a new mindset. Like every tragedy, we can either let it destroy us, or we can use it to our benefit to repair what is damaged. To rise above in this crisis, we must come together not just as one group, but one nation, one world under God.