We Can Do This!
March 23, 2020
I work in a big office building with a vast expansive field of cubicles. This week, we rushed around to equip and move as many people as possible to working from home, due to COVID-19 social distancing recommendations. It was a crazy situation, and we encountered a lot of anger. But I had to remind myself, yet again, that anger is really fear. There is a lot of fear out there. But, not for those who have Christ in their lives! Believers have a choice, and fear is a choice. You can choose to be afraid, or as the Bible tells us over and over again, you can “Fear not” (see Matthew 10:31, Luke 12:32, and Acts 27:24).
COVID-19 is reality, but it is not permanent. Empty shelves in stores is reality, but they are not permanent. We got through 9/11. Life changed, but we are still here. We got through the 2008/2009 unemployment and stock market crash. Life changed, but we are still standing here ready to face the next challenge. The current reality is not permanent. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, remember that! 2 Corinthians 4:18 puts this current situation in perspective:
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NKJV)
Where is your focus today? Is your focus on the current situation? Are you spending your valuable thought life “awful-izing” the situation, or are you focused on the big picture of eternity? I know having the kids home from school or daycare may seem like eternity, but that is not the eternity the Apostle Paul is speaking of in this scripture.
Every temporary situation holds an opportunity. You can teach your kids how to do things that you don’t always have time to teach them in the normal rush of everyday life. Things like sorting, washing, and folding laundry. Teaching them how to hand-write a letter to Grandma, address an envelope, and where to find a mailbox. Or even teaching your teenager how to parallel park the SUV. All the things that will make “adulting” less challenging for them in the future. Just stay busy. Find things you are each thankful for and discuss them together.
We will get through this, and as believers, we HAVE to remain the calm voice of reason in the chaos. Your calmness will be a tremendous witness to others. We can do this, Sisters and Brothers! We can do this!
