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My weekend looks very different than it did a week ago. Originally we had booked a hotel in Milwaukee for a basketball tournament for my youngest and a soccer tournament for my middle. I was going to drive separately from my husband so I could attend a women’s event at our church on Saturday morning and then race to Milwaukee to catch parts of both soccer and basketball throughout the weekend. I would have hardly seen my husband and not spent hardly any quality time with the boys, because of course they would either be on the field or with their buddies. The two days would have been filled with eating poorly and not getting enough sleep.
After the coronavirus outbreak, all that has changed. EVERYTHING has been canceled including my oldest son returning from college for the next three weeks. WHAT!?! The ENTIRE family is now STUCK at home with each other. Yay! What once seemed like a punishment to have everything canceled and taken away is now starting to look like an unexpected blessing.
Now, I don’t want to discount the fact that we are living in a very scaring and tough time for so many people…for medical professionals, for the elderly, for those with a compromised immune system, for children who are vulnerable. Yes, very scary and unsettling for so many. As I was reading about the virus, one line struck me…the virus hates the sun (SON). It is not heat-resistant and (Son)light kills it. As I was reading this, it was a total confirmation that this is a tactic of our enemy (satan) to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). The enemy has released this virus to bring more evil into the world. More fear, death, anxiety and just plain darkness.
But the good news is that the (son)light kills it! Jesus has already defeated the enemy and paid the price for all that is evil. But what the enemy meant for evil, God will make for good (Genesis 50:20). Instead of walking around in fear, we need to walk in the fact that we serve a very BIG God and that this is not too big for Him and that we can TRUST Him in all of this! Please, stop RIGHT now and pray. All we need to do is invite Him into our circumstances and then continue to trust Him:
“Father, thank you that You are not surprised or scared or even in fear of this virus. You knew the enemy was going to unleash it. For reasons beyond our understanding you allowed this to happen and because of that, we know that You are going to bring goodness out of this situation, because that is who You are.. a good, good Father. What the enemy meant for evil, you will make for good. Father, we invite you into our current circumstances in dealing with all of this and we ask that your will be done. That you would open up heaven over my life and over the lives I love and impart your power, your grace and your mercy. Thank you that you have heard this prayer. We trust You and your ways. Amen”
Yes, take this very virus very seriously and take precautions, but also rejoice in the fact that we ARE FORCED TO SLOW DOWN and given an opportunity to reprioritize our lives. To reflect on the things in our lives that may have an unhealthy priority over what is really important. We are forced to remove sports, entertainment, social gatherings and just plain busyness with an opportunity to spend more time with God, our spouse and our family. What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good. Slow down, enjoy life at a slower pace and start to appreciate the things that are right in front of your nose.
I am writing this post on day 7 of having influenza. I’ve been confined to my bed and have had hours and hours to think. I’ve also had hours and hours of coughing, sneezing, fever, drinking tons of water, two boxes of Kleenex and a family that has loved me well through it. Stay home, love your family and ENJOY the next couple of weeks/months with your children home…being sick is no fun! This time is a gift for your family.
