What the heck is going on in our world? We are in a “Now what?” moment in history. There is so much uncharted territory we are traveling and the hard part is that it changes and develops daily. The feelings of uncertainty, fear and change are becoming the new normal. I’m not sure about y’all but I get this “OK, now what” feeling every day.
We are all in our own ways asking ourselves and others, “now what?” We are asking that for our families, our occupations and for our communities. As a pastor, we are asking that as local church and for the larger Church. Churches for the first time in US history have chosen to not gather in person and we may not gather at all on Easter Sunday… CRAZY! This is causing us to ask questions about what the role of the church in our world. For years we evangelicals have said things like, “the church isn’t a building” and now we have to actually not just say it but ask how do we really live it out.
Truth be told I have been in a season of working through some serious pain and disappointment. The last thing my life, heart and mind needed was more chaos and stress. But, nonetheless here we all are, facing unique challenges we have never experienced before. The pain of our daily lives has just been compounded in exponential ways. So what do we do? How is it possible to focus on so many problems at once?
I have been interested by the responses of people to the Coronavirus crisis. Some people (and for sure me in the early days) have seen this as a huge overreaction, a big nothing, calling it and everyone worried “silly.” Others have responded with so much fear that it has escalated the panic of others around them. I believe a healthy reaction is somewhere in the middle of those two responses.
Precaution is not overreacting, it’s wisdom. Being inconvenienced, or delaying our entertainment and gratification is a small loss compared to the potential loss of lives.
Tweet
A response of precaution and perspective is needed. Precaution is not overreacting, it’s wisdom. Being inconvenienced, or delaying our entertainment and gratification is a small loss compared to the potential loss of lives. But like so many, we tend to focus on the fear and inconveniences rather than the opportunities a crisis like this might afford us all.
When things seem, or are uncertain, it’s important to have anchor points in our lives. Anchors hold a ship in place and keep it from drifting off. When a ship is anchored, the anchor doesn’t move but the boat can still experience a certain amount of back and forth drifting. Even in the midst of a large storm and waves we can hold firm if we drop our anchors.
We need the anchor points of perspective, patience and prayer more than ever. Sadly these are three things that most of us (definitely me included) lack in our lives, which than causes us to drift and not be able to give to others when they are needed most… stability and strength.
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message)
In these verses, Paul is giving the Corinthians a healthy dose of perspective. It easy for us to only focus on what we can see right in front of us, or even the pain and fear we are currently feeling. But the truth is that God is always up to something redemptive for us and the world. No trial or pain lasts forever, but the things that God does in our lives to make us more like him are forever.
Paul says, “There far more here than meets the eye.” Could God be using this crisis to do a new work in our lives? If we only focus on the current hard times we might miss the opportunities we have right in front of us. One example is the amount of extra time this has given us all back. Time to invest in ourselves spiritually and emotionally. How about the time we have been given with our loved ones? These are the things that last.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)
I find that patience is the one thing that we all need and want but don’t have enough of. We hate waiting for anything and now we are being asked to wait for everything. Could this be a blessing for us? If the world, especially Christians, became more patient because of all of this, we would all be better off.
I am not a patient person, but I have found that when I accept the reality of having wait, as opposed to fight it, I am so much healthier and happier. Paul challenges us to be joyful in our hope and patient in afflictions. Sounds like a perfect opportunity for growth right now. Lastly, Paul challenges us to be faithful in prayer.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Prayer is one of the greatest expressions of faith. A person of prayer realizes that much, if not most, of life is completely out of their control. Talking to God, giving our cares and worries to Him, is an incredible expression of trust and dependency. Paul reminds us that there is a “reward” for those who seek God wholeheartedly. I believe the reward is a deeper relationship with God, as well as peace and a confidence to face whatever life throws our way. I believe there is a relationship between the amount of worry we experience and the amount of prayer we are practicing.
What anchors do you hold on to in the midst of the storms of life? What anchors would you add to these three?
