It’s times like these that our faith is put to the test. We are forced to practice what we preach or throw up our hands and join the complaining, the doomsday talking, the fear, the chaos. What if we could walk through this difficult struggle with peace?
There is a way.
But it’s not easy. The reality we face is tough. Parents are forced to make tough decisions about working hours and schooling children. The peer pressure to keep kids stimulated and educated is hot and heavy. The countless daytime schedules circulating social media is overwhelming. The grocery stores can’t keep up with the demand – and some are stockpiling everything they can think of, just in case. This leaves many without. We are living in a situation we’ve never found ourselves in before. The challenges are bigger than we know how to handle.
But there is one thing we can do.
This is the time. Today is the day! It’s time to stop reading the headlines and start lifting our head and heart to the One who can do something about it.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
While it is good to be informed, it’s also overwhelming to consume all the media surrounding the current situation. Instead choose to use your time to remember the promises found in God’s Word.
I’m sure you feel the heavy weight of the circumstances. It’s a lot for all of us. The unknowns are many. But there is one thing we can be sure of. Peace is found in knowing Jesus. Maybe you know Him and your heart still feels heavy. I’m with you. But He promises to lift our burdens and lighten our load. So when we feel that heaviness pressing hard on our souls, we know where to turn.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Maybe you don’t know him yet, but feel Him calling you right now. Let today be the day you give your heart to God.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
For more verses on peace, turn to John 3:16, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and Romans 10:9.
But what about the reality of providing for my family? I get it. I walked through the grocery store a couple days ago and saw the reality. No eggs. No bread. No meat. But, my children are still eating. We haven’t missed a meal yet. And I’m remembering everyday who supplies our needs.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Remember who provides for you. While we want to pull up our bootstraps and do it all ourselves, perhaps God is calling us to let go and bend our knee to His provision.
You know the feeling you got when you first heard there might not be toilet paper, or you turned the corner at your local market to find the shelves empty?
The anxiety creeps up our necks and into our heads and hearts quick. We can make jokes and create funny graphics to cope, but that doesn’t fix the problem or cut out the chaos inside. The place we find peace is found in God’s Word.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
The real remedy is obviously getting the essentials you need to stay sanitary, but mentally it’s taking a deep breath and adopting a “no matter what” attitude.
No matter what, God is still on the throne. No matter what, I will still serve Jesus. No matter what, I still believe God is faithful. Even if there truly is no more toilet paper. Even then, I trust God.
We can chuckle at the toilet paper problem, or we can embrace the calm assurance that everything is going to be okay because it is. God is not surprised. He is not caught off guard.
“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:2-3).
There is no way to know how many days we will be encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing. This is an opportunity some of us have never had and some of us may never get again. Use this time wisely. Wise use of your time might mean letting the kids stay in their jammies all day. Or it might mean launching that online business you’ve been wanting to start.
But either way, practice loving the people under your roof. Make memories. Eat meals around the family table. Pray. Have fun. Take some time alone in your room, closet, outside, or wherever you can get a minute alone. Give smiles away freely. When the stress rises and the air gets thick with frustration, look up and remember the gift of being together.
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
Patience is probably one of my least favorite words, but it’s a lesson we are learning right now. The unknowns ahead and the lack of information about the timing is hard on all of us. Perhaps this is why God reminds us through David “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart” (Psalm 27:14).
Courage and strength will shine through those who are trusting God in this difficult time. Be courageous. Not in a “I’m not afraid of anything” ignorance, but in a “God is with us always” kind of confidence. Because He is!
God did not bring us this far to leave us now. I’m praying for you to embrace peace today. Choose one way to live with more peace and share this with someone who needs a little encouragement.
Micah Maddox is a women’s event speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Anchored In: Experience a Power-Full Life in a Problem-Filled World . She is passionate about helping women find purpose, peace, and calm in our chaotic world. Micah is on the Proberbs31 First5 Writing Team. As a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and foster mom, she contributes her time to her family and local church serving as a women’s ministry leader. Micah loves to give a voice to hurting hearts and writes to the one who needs encouragement. You can connect with her at micahmaddox.com.
He is a cross pendant.
He is engraved with a unique Number.
He will mail it out from Jerusalem.
He will be sent to your Side.
Emmanuel
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