So, here we are, one year into this pandemic. Who would have thought that our lives would be disrupted so quickly only to linger on into an uncertain end? Will life ever return to normal? What is normal, these days? I think I’ve forgotten what brand of normal I am supposed to return to and that begs the question, should we seek to return at all? If we look at biblical history, it seems that God often used disruption to change things. Think about the Israelites’ exodus out of Egypt or let’s go back even farther to the flood. I think wiping humanity off the face of the earth could be deemed disruptive, how about you? Jesus Himself disrupted the religious practices of the day and started a revolution that remains today.
So, instead of worrying about vaccines or no vaccines or how many more days of social distancing and mask wearing we must endure, maybe we need to dig into what we are supposed to be learning. What change is God seeking to bring about in the world, in our country and most of all, in our hearts? How have we already changed and have those changes been good? Hmmm … it sounds like I need to do some more self-examination. How about you?
In your quiet time with the Father, ask Him what he wants you to learn. Ask how He wants you to change through this disruption. Although the answer may be unique to every one of us, one thing is clear – God is doing something. We might not know what He is up to, but He is carrying out His sovereign plan and He’s fortifying His body – the church – to do the work that is left to do on this earth. And as a follower of Jesus, you have a role to play in His future. So, no matter how many more weeks (or months) we must endure in the pandemic, stand in the truth that God is using this disruption to move us, and remember that all things work for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. Are you ready to move?
The best perspective (I agree) for everyone who is a disciple of Jesus. I’ve found that, as long as I’m paying attention along my journey, disruptions are the norm, not the exception. As we’ve seen this past year-plus, some disruptions are bigger, more impactful than others. Some we see coming, others we don’t. Everything lies in how we respond and in whether we are able to see what is consistently helpful (or not) in our responses. Following Jesus (faithfully) can be more challenging than I think many want to admit, or recognize, because the path and how He leads is not always marked by discernible patterns. For sure, He knows and does whatever it takes and whatever is most needful for us in the moment. He does what He does with the long view in sight. Keeping my view aligned with His is where the “rubber meets (or misses) the road.
Thank you, Nate, for your deeply thoughtful and insightful comment. Yes and Amen!