Hey, friends! We've just made it through our first week of school closures and "shelter in place" orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, how are you???
Did you go into action mode and follow your 10 Step Plan for Emergencies?
Did you calmly respond to the news by not panicking and maintaining composure at all times?
Did you make all the wise decisions and remember to take it all one step at a time at every moment?
Did you win all the awards for Person/Christian/Neighbor/Parent/Leader of the year because you did everything right?
If you did, then KUDOS TO YOU!!! That's seriously amazing.
What I'm here to tell the rest of you is that I DID NOT. I didn't go into action mode (except when I panicked). I didn't maintain composure. I didn't make all the wise decisions.
For most of the week it felt like I had a case of mental whiplash+jetlag while I wondered if this was what it was like to wait in a storm cellar for a tornado to hit. I didn't do everything wrong, but I also don't deserve any awards for how I handled myself this week.
So I thank God.
Today is a new day and there are new mercies for me and for you every single morning, every week, in every season.
This week was a roller coaster and it made me nauseous. If you felt the same way - if you still feel that way - take heart. You aren't alone or on your own.
I keep hearing "You've got this!" or "We've got this!" As if we can really just muster up all of our energy and smarts and resources and make it through this with our collective wits and strength. But I don't really believe it. I don't believe the government's got this. I don't believe the doctors got this. I don't believe our economy's got this.
The first lesson we need to learn right now is that "WE DON'T GOT THIS!" We can't really control the spread of this virus. We can't really control the economy. We can't make all of the right decisions because we have no idea what's coming and neither does the governor or the president or anybody else.
AND THIS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD NEWS.
What I want you to do right now is take a deep breath and let it out and remember God's holding you. God's watching over you. God's helping you. If you are God's child, nothing can separate you from his faithful love, new mercies, and great faithfulness. (There's no social distancing from God!!!)
You don't got this. But God does. God's with you and God's got you!
There is no pandemic bigger than God. There is no crisis greater than God. There is no disaster more powerful than God.
He promises to be with us in the fire.
He promises to be with us in the floods.
He promises to guide us when we need direction.
He promises to carry us and strengthen us and hold onto us.
He promises to work all of these crazy situations out for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes.
God is with us in this pandemic and the confusion and the fear and frustration it brings. We don't have to have this all under control. So next time someone tells you, "We've got this!" smile and tell them, "No, we don't. But it's okay. Because God's got this. And I'm trusting him."
Father, God, I thank you that I don't have to have this all under control. Forgive me for reading too much of the world's bad news when what I needed most was to soak in your good news. You are still good and your love endures forever. You're holding me and you are helping me. And no matter what comes next, you are able to make your grace overflow to us so that it can overflow through us. Keep us coming back to you. In this pandemic and forever. Amen.
Did you go into action mode and follow your 10 Step Plan for Emergencies?
Did you calmly respond to the news by not panicking and maintaining composure at all times?
Did you make all the wise decisions and remember to take it all one step at a time at every moment?
Did you win all the awards for Person/Christian/Neighbor/Parent/Leader of the year because you did everything right?
If you did, then KUDOS TO YOU!!! That's seriously amazing.
What I'm here to tell the rest of you is that I DID NOT. I didn't go into action mode (except when I panicked). I didn't maintain composure. I didn't make all the wise decisions.
For most of the week it felt like I had a case of mental whiplash+jetlag while I wondered if this was what it was like to wait in a storm cellar for a tornado to hit. I didn't do everything wrong, but I also don't deserve any awards for how I handled myself this week.
So I thank God.
Today is a new day and there are new mercies for me and for you every single morning, every week, in every season.
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. ~Lamentations 3:22-26
Every morning, God's mercies are new and fresh and waiting for me. He forgives me for panicking and forgetting to pray. He forgives me for being afraid and irritable and impatient. He doesn't give up on me. He is helping me and holding me, even when I fall apart. (Especially when I fall apart.)This week was a roller coaster and it made me nauseous. If you felt the same way - if you still feel that way - take heart. You aren't alone or on your own.
I keep hearing "You've got this!" or "We've got this!" As if we can really just muster up all of our energy and smarts and resources and make it through this with our collective wits and strength. But I don't really believe it. I don't believe the government's got this. I don't believe the doctors got this. I don't believe our economy's got this.
The first lesson we need to learn right now is that "WE DON'T GOT THIS!" We can't really control the spread of this virus. We can't really control the economy. We can't make all of the right decisions because we have no idea what's coming and neither does the governor or the president or anybody else.
AND THIS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD NEWS.
What I want you to do right now is take a deep breath and let it out and remember God's holding you. God's watching over you. God's helping you. If you are God's child, nothing can separate you from his faithful love, new mercies, and great faithfulness. (There's no social distancing from God!!!)
You don't got this. But God does. God's with you and God's got you!
There is no pandemic bigger than God. There is no crisis greater than God. There is no disaster more powerful than God.
Costco may run out of toilet paper, but God never runs out of grace.
And while God does not actually promise we won't face problems that are too big for us, he does tell us there's nothing too big for him.He promises to be with us in the fire.
He promises to be with us in the floods.
He promises to guide us when we need direction.
He promises to carry us and strengthen us and hold onto us.
He promises to work all of these crazy situations out for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes.
God is with us in this pandemic and the confusion and the fear and frustration it brings. We don't have to have this all under control. So next time someone tells you, "We've got this!" smile and tell them, "No, we don't. But it's okay. Because God's got this. And I'm trusting him."
Father, God, I thank you that I don't have to have this all under control. Forgive me for reading too much of the world's bad news when what I needed most was to soak in your good news. You are still good and your love endures forever. You're holding me and you are helping me. And no matter what comes next, you are able to make your grace overflow to us so that it can overflow through us. Keep us coming back to you. In this pandemic and forever. Amen.
"And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work."
~2 Corinthians 9:8
God's got this. So we don't have to. That is good news, indeed.