Mass hysteria. News updates every 5minutes. Lines outside of my local HEB. Counting my ply usage more closely. Washing my hands until they flake dry.
This is happening. Whatever it is. Whether it’s really the beginning of something insanely huge or if it’s just a blip in time, made insignificant with the next news cycle- this thing is on our doorsteps and it’s big.
Last week we talked about being “on the fence” and here I find myself again. Isn’t this where so many of us are? I can hear the rest of you saying “No! I ain’t on no fence. This is a hoax and it’ll all be over soon. Ridiculous, is what it is!” … while others respond with “I’m so tired of people making this a big joke. I have a very small baby at home, elderly parents, and a low immune system- and I’m not about to go outside of this house unless everyone is safe.”
I’ll be honest. I was the first person. I took to Facebook and posted all sorts of jokes about toilet paper, shared a meme asking “who’s playing Jumanji right now?!”, and came to feel a real disdain for people who were making this thing such a big deal. “It’s not that bad, people. Chill.”
I wanted people to calm down. I wanted to take my daughter to the indoor playscape we had planned to go to. I wanted my world to keep going on as if nothing was happening and I blanketed it all with statements like “I can’t live in fear” not realizing that fear was the cause of my reactions as well.
My brother-in-law Jason is a youth pastor at a local church and he posted something that made me reorganize my heart.
“In times like these, it’s very easy to become fearful, paranoid, or angry. It’s also very easy to be irritable, inconsiderate, unkind, or mock those who are experiencing these emotions. As aggravating as some people can be to us, we as the church must remember that we are called to love, above all else.”
Irritable….inconsiderate...unkind...mocking… all of it. I did all of it. Maybe not publicly and maybe not to their faces, but I let these unkind words slip out in the privacy of my kitchen, in conversations with my husband and other “like-minded” friends. Just because it seemed funny and “ridiculous” to me, didn’t give me the right to be inconsiderate.
Private conversations say a lot about your intent and motive. Not saying it to their face doesn’t make you a better person.
So I stopped and started asking tough questions. Questions I had asked myself time and time again. Long before Covid-19.
What am I trying to say?
What’s the condition of my heart?
What’s my motive?
Is what I’m doing helpful?
Would God be pleased with me?
Is there something good that I’m not seeing?
Friends, there are so many good things to focus on. So many things we can be doing to help. So many of our hearts that are in the wrong places. I pray we take this time of quarantine and social-distancing to re-evaluate how we treat each other in difficult times. Just because your tragedy isn’t mine doesn’t mean I don’t bear the burden with you. Just because your fears and concerns aren’t mine, doesn’t mean I withhold compassion toward you.
I’m reminded of the ever-so-present verses in the Bible that remind us to rest and be still. I’m reminded of Mommas that normally have to work and are now forced to stay home with their children- perhaps a blessing in disguise. I’m blessed by the many companies making that possible. I’m concerned for the fathers who are worried they can’t make ends meet for their families if their places of business shut down. Blessed that my husband isn’t affected by that.
What’s something good you can see in all of this? What’s ONE way you can change your heart away from fear or away from pride?
One thing I know for sure- time is precious. I pray we use it wisely. Taking this time to lean further into the promises and love of our ever-faithful God.
The song I’ve chosen to pair with this devotion is entitled “Well Spring” by Leeland.
I pray this song becomes your mantra this week. When you feel like you’re running out of patience, running out of options, running out of the basic essentials, or if you’re running out of love- May God guide you and fill you with His wellspring!
Pray
Lord, help us to be good. We are oftentimes so embarrassed by our knee-jerk responses and reactions to hard things because it shows who we really are. It shows the ugliness of our hearts. It brings to light our lack of faith. It does anything and everything but bring You glory. So we claim that back today. We ask You to help us see how you’re working in the midst. We put our anxiety and our stress into your capable hands. We know you love us and we ask You to help us love others. May we be lacking in nothing.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.- Psalms 139: 23-24
Reflect
1. What’s something good you can see in all of this?
- Write down ONE way that you can change to move your heart away from fear-
- Write down ONE way that you can change to move your heart away from pride-
2. Take some time to write down these questions and put them in a place where they’ll be in handy for the next hard thing you face.
What message am I sending?
What message am I WANTING to send?
Are they the same?
What’s the condition of my heart?
What’s my motive?
Is what I’m doing helpful?
Would God be pleased with me?
Is there something good that I’m not seeing?
Do Something
- Send your condolences to someone who is on the other side of the fence of this issue. Sometimes people just need to know that they’re heard and understood.
- If you’re young and able- offer to do some essential shopping for someone who isn’t. Drop it off at their doorstep. Respect their need to stay away.
- For those people who need to work- maybe offer to watch their child for them for a few days. Every little bit helps.
- Smile at someone. We could all use a smile.
Further Reading
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalms 91: 1-2
There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. - 1 John 4:18 MSG
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works- Hebrews 10:25
And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows- 1 Thessalonians 3:12
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