But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD,
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in Your hand.
(Psalm 31:14-15)
The current Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge in our lifetime. How do we handle these uncharted choppy waters?
Be kind. Be patient. Be gracious. Be gentle. People are very, very fragile. Emotions are close to the surface. Take care of one another. People are ill, dying, grieving, frightened, angry, lonely, disappointed, depressed, bored, terrified, conflicted, isolated, and vulnerable.
Check on one another. Support one another as we maneuver through this minefield. Ask God who you can serve by calling isolated friends and family, listening to those who need to process some tough struggles, getting groceries, running errands for those who are quarantined, donating for those in need, giving practical assistance, writing notes, posting fun and uplifting content, sharing beauty, and being Jesus with skin on. We can all help in some way. We need each other, especially now. Some fear the virus, some fear the financial fallout, some fear the time alone. Some of you are introverts, and the social distancing aspect of this crisis is no great hardship. Some of you are extroverts and are already losing your mind.
Be wise. Be responsible. Be aware of your own vulnerabilities and your impact on others. I am dismayed by some who are still recklessly putting others in danger by continuing non-essential gatherings, thereby risking lives. I know so many of us must remain in contact with other people through your jobs and responsibilities—and I applaud all of you who are caring for others and keeping us going. But as one of those high-risk individuals with severe lung issues, I beg you to self-quarantine if you can and observe social distance and good hygiene when you cannot.
Be ready to give an account for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15) People have their antennae out, looking for something, anything to hold onto in this storm. Many feel suddenly rudderless. Be the Body of Christ. Help others to take hold of “this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)
Choose peace over panic. Don't waste this opportunity. Take advantage of the quiet. Some of us burn the candle at both ends and may suddenly have buffer time and space for the first time in years. Use this time to be with God in His Word, in prayer, in silence and solitude. There’s a huge difference between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is nothingness. Loneliness is empty. Solitude is being with God alone. Spending time with my Beloved. Solitude is life-giving. Solitude with Jesus fills us with hope and peace and direction. Lean in. Rest your head on the Lord so you can heart His heartbeat.
I have a challenging job description in Psalm One: To put your hand in the hand of Jesus. Teaching the Word, creating space for God, modeling uni-tasking instead of multi-tasking, and encouraging time alone at Jesus’ feet so people can hear that still small voice, see the One who is invisible, and truly experience God. To follow hard after Him with our head, heart, and hands. Some have been thrust into a season with extra time and space and have no idea what to do with it.
Would you appreciate some input, guidance, tools, or other content to help us spend this time with Jesus? At the Refocus and Refuel Retreat and Days of Refreshing, we practice seeking God “alone together”. That is not a contradiction in terms. That means we are each spending time alone with the Lord, but with the encouragement and accountability of others who are also seeking Him. If you would like to receive this input, submit your email below for “Alone Together” and I’ll keep you in the loop.
My health varies, so I can’t guarantee how much or how often I will share. I’m not sure what form it will take. I want it to be Spirit-led instead of Linda-led, so let’s give God space and see what He might have to share with us.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:5-9)
Please pray:
For all of those affected in so many ways at so many levels.
For those who are ill or will contract Covid-19.
For those who have or will lose loved ones to Covid-19.
For the medical teams and researchers battling this illness and caring for us.
For every worker who is keeping us going.
For people who need to keep working in a public setting to keep food on the table.
For people who may lose their business or will have to shut down for weeks or months.
For people who may be severely impacted financially.
For people who live paycheck to paycheck who no longer have a paycheck.
For people who are hungry.
For those whose plans and dreams have been thwarted in so many ways.
For all those whose entire life has been turned upside down.
For people who are very, very afraid with nothing to hold on to.
For people who are lonely and cut off from loved ones.
For people who are at high risk due to age, compromised immune systems, health complications and other issues.
That our global community will work together with
Through all of this, I have this palpable, unshakeable sense of hope. I truly believe good things are going to come out of this. We’ve already seen so many people being proactive and creative to help, serve, support, and encourage others any safe way they can. But things will get a lot worse before they get better. Any predictions on how this will play out and how long it will last are mere guesses. God alone knows what we are facing. There are some things that only change through suffering. We do not have the answers, but we know that God is still sovereign and eternal, and He is not wringing His hands.
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children.
(2 Chronicles 20:12-13)
May we humble ourselves before God as individuals and as a community. May we look to Him as the still spot in a spinning universe. May we rest in Him. And may we be shaped by trials to look more like Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Linda
To seek God “Alone Together:
