Life feels surreal right now.
The world is literally shutdown.
I am missing my senior year of college.
I can’t visit my dearest friends or boyfriend.
People I love are risking their lives to help others.
And it almost makes you pause and wonder where God is in all of this?
So, I guess the question is how can you maintain your faith when the world is crumbling around you? How can you keep your focus on Jesus when the chaos keeps pulling your gaze away?
One of my good friends compared this situation to that of Peter in Matthew 14:22 – 32! The disciples are quietly floating across the sea when a storm appears without warning. Then, amidst the pouring rain and wicked wind that are threatening to sink their boat they see a man walking on the water towards them. Realizing it is Jesus, Peter eventually ends up on the water walking in the middle of this terrifying force of nature. But he loses focus and begins to let fear creep into his heart… that is when he begins to drown.
Right now, I feel like that is the state of our society. We have lost our Christian foundation. We have become a busy and fast – paced society that is very focused on being autonomous and successful. I fall prey to this all the time! I convince myself that I do not have enough time to invest in the one relationship that should be my main priority. The one relationship that will keep me floating when the storms of life, like this pandemic, hit me and turn the whole entire world upside down.
First, I think we must acknowledge that God did not cause this bad thing to happen. In the beginning He created a perfect world that we, as humans, fractured by disobeying His commands. With this decision, we accepted a life that was not the ideal that God created for His beloved creations. Instead, there is now war and natural disasters and death and disease that attack the people and things we love. Part of this is the work of the devil as he tries his hardest to keep this fracture in our relationships with God as well, but God has power even in the darkness for nothing can stop His light. In Revelation it is evident that even the plans of the enemy meant to destroy the world are limited by God to a certain time and place. He is all powerful.
So, if God did not cause the disease but we know He has the power to stop it… then why doesn’t He? And this is where we must have faith, believing even what we may not be witnessing with our own eyes. The news is making the world look incredibly bleak right now and can be very terrifying. Ignoring the news on t.v., I have begun to focus on those around me and even social media to try to find an answer to this question. And I have only started to uncover the greater purposes!
China is seeing a revival as the masks have helped people spread the gospel without fear
My pastor was invited to preach on ABC for the remainder of April to try to spread hope
People are rallying together and beginning to really support one another
We have time to find real rest and slow down
There are countless videos of doctors and nurses praying and worshiping
We are realizing how blessed we are as a nation and that we can take nothing for granted
God is getting to show that He is the only true source of peace in a storm
There is more time to worship, invest in people, read the Bible, and pray
There are no more excuses!
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. God’s plan is way too large for my mind to comprehend and this is the truth that I am leaning on to get me through this pandemic. He has given us so much of our day back by allowing this to happen, and is trying to draw our attention back to Him so we can stop drowning in the chaos of our busy lives. We have time to spend every day in the word. We have time to write down our prayers and get on our knees before God. We have time to play our praise music and dance around the kitchen. We have time to serve others in unique ways and to discover the talents God has given us to use in service of Him!
These habits are the foundations for strong faith! Habits that specifically get you into the word and into prayer. Habits that lead to a deep relationship with God, and will make you fall in love with Him as your habits become desires of your heart. The more time you spend with Him I can promise you will not be able to resist… I have been getting in the word every day either with friends or by myself and I am starting to see myself turning back to my first love. And it is the most incredible feeling! There is no love or relationship quite like one with Him. He has given me so much peace over the virus! If I die, I get to go to Heaven and fall into His loving arms. If I live, I have the opportunity to use my story and experiences to keep pointing people to the One who has blessed me with each day I have had on this earth. He has given me clarity, hope, a purpose, and joy even though I am stuck in the same house every. Single. Day. It is all to bring Him glory!!!
The key to a strong faith in the middle of chaos is fixing your eyes on Jesus. Even when He feels distant, or the world is going up in flames, or there is not part of you that wants to talk to Him. That is when you need Him most. He is the only one who has the power to change us from the inside out. And when you open your heart and time to Him, He will not hesitate to take the chaos and bring peace to you amidst the craziest and most terrifying of storms.
“For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Faith is crazy powerful! So… facetime your friends, get your family together, or spend some quiet time pouring into the most rewarding relationship of your life!
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