Coronavirus. COVID-19. It's something that we have all become all too familiar with. And with it, the stinging feeling of disappointment in what is and was to come. The parts of life we relied so heavily on have been stripped away from us. And we are left with this feeling of emptiness. Of worry. Of anger. Of frustration. And of pain. We feel like we are left with nothing, but in reality, we are left with so much and an opportunity for everything.
First off update on my life: I am still doing the Spring SOMD at YWAM Orlando. Spring is just coming a little later now. Originally I was supposed to start on March 30th, but it has been postponed until May 4th. While it is a bummer it had to be pushed back due to COVID-19, it has left me with more time to fund-raise and more time with my family which I love.
Anyways, back to the really important part.
To the parents who have to face the battle of guiding their kids through distance learning: keep going. Look at these moments not as a loss but as a gain of a few more family moments with your kids and you spouses. There will be a day your kids have moved out and started their own lives, that you'll wish you were locked in your house with them for days on end (even if there are moments you think a kid won't make it out of this alive:)). Focus on the memories you are making
To the college kids who had to have their semester end early: you know your family loves you. And they are excited to have you home with them. So enjoy those moments, even if they aren't the fun things you could have been doing with friends. Your family has been there since day one and will be there until the end. So love right where you are at.
To the Seniors: I'm sorry. I'm sorry you've had to sacrifice your end of year activities for now. But let me remind you of something: your "last..." is being sacrificed so that someone doesn't have to have their last breath. You are sacrificing things that you shouldn't have to. But because of it, you are giving countless numbers of people a chance at years upon years more with the ones they love. Our last.... isn't worth someone's life without their loved one. So be grateful for the memories you do have and the ones still to come with the end of quarantine.
To the kids and the teens: There are things you are having to miss that hurt for the time being. Sports, hang outs, activities, and fun are all gone. But there will always be more. The sports will start again. You will be able to hang out with your friends again. You will be able to go to school again. It will all come. Use this season to connect with your family and with Jesus in ways your busy schedule never allowed for. So be grateful for the things you still get because those are worth more than anything else.
To the teachers: thank you. Thank you for being willing and flexible with the changes. Thank you for stepping up to the challenge and never failing to support your students. You are all amazing. Spend this time with your family and cherish the unique skills you are learning. So keep up the amazing work and remember your work isn't for nothing.
To all those out of work or jobs: trust the Lord. Trust He will provide for your needs. Will it be hard? Yes. Absolutely. But you have a God who is bigger than any sickness and still sees you. So trust in His plan, His process, and His timing.
To everyone: Keep fighting. Keep worshiping. Keep praying. Keep getting out of bed in the morning. This is a storm. But storms end. And this one will too. You are never alone. Keep seeking the face of the one who still has a plan. Keep reminding yourself of the promises He gives us in the Bible that ring true yesterday, today, and forever. You are stronger than you think. And with the help of the Lord, no weapon formed against you will prosper. TRUST. He will sustain you. He has you. This is who Jesus still is: perfect provider, way-maker, our sustainer, King of all, promise-keeper, our light and our salvation, and HE IS STILL GOD.
Let me ask you a question:
Would you give up all you have lost these past weeks to see people come to know Jesus?
If your answer is no, do a heart check and then come back.
If your answer is yes, then I think you already have. You see, I think Coronavirus has the potential to be the biggest miracle this generation has ever seen. I firmly believe the harvest is ripe and the world is ready to witness a miracle. At the rate this virus is going and did go in China, we have quite a long time ahead of us. But what if we didn't? What if in one moment the virus just disappeared? Give me your science to prove that. Give me an evolutionary theory to prove that. WHAT IF, in one moment God took it away from the earth and healed all the sick, the ones on the verge of death and the ones who didn't even know they had it? Can you imagine what that would look like? A virus, wreaking havoc across the world, doing visible and measurable destruction to people's respiratory systems, is there one day and gone the next in a single breath, at a single word. Because I know a God who could do that. Who I believe wants to do that, but is just waiting for us to invite Him. How many of us are hiding in our houses from more than just this virus? How many of us are hiding behind color coded schedules, routines we have made to make ourselves feel sane? How many of us are distracting ourselves with work and school and self care and cooking and whatever it is you're doing during this time? WHAT IF, God is waiting for us to put down our schedules and our feelings of disappointment of what isn't and turn to the one who was and is and is to come? WHAT IF God is waiting on us to invite Him in to work and move and show the world who He is and what He can do? Don't you see? COVID-19 isn't a curse. It isn't a punish, it isn't God's anger being poured out, it isn't some government scheme, and it isn't our end all be all. The one thing, the ONE THING that hasn't changed from before COVID-19 until now is JESUS. This virus is an opportunity of a lifetime for the Church to rise up and point to Jesus. To help those who need it. To donate our money and our time and our resources to those who are suffering. To put down our crazy, busy schedules and focus back on Him. All of this in order to say, "not me, but Jesus."
WHAT IF God wants each of us to invite Him to move in the midst of this crisis? What if God is waiting until we say, "We are done with our plans and we are ready for yours"? What if He were to remove this virus from the earth with just one word? What would that say to the rest of the world? How would people explain that? There would be only one explanation: Jesus. And I believe He is waiting for just that: and invitation to move. Because once He moves, it's our job to point to Him and say, "Not science, not chance, but Jesus." Can you even imagine the lives that would be changed? Can you imagine the immediate flood of people at churches doors the next Sunday when the quarantine is over looking for answers? Can you imagine the celebration in Heaven as people by the THOUSANDS come to finally know Jesus? Can you imagine the smile on our Father's face when He see's His children running back to Him? Because I can. And I can't wait to see how God moves in the midst of this crisis.
So yes, many of us have lost things and missed things we were looking forward to. But WHAT IF we lost all that so our neighbors and friends and co-workers and family members could see the shining, holy face of Jesus? Wouldn't it all be worth it?
So in you prayers, your times of worship to Jesus, invite Him in to move. Intercede for all those who can't so we can see a miracle on this earth that can only point to Jesus. Pray the big prayers with faith, that this virus would vanish from this earth in the blink of an eye all for the glory of Jesus. Ask Jesus to do the impossible and believe it. Because I believe we are on the edge of the greatest miracle of this generation. And I'm ready to see it and point it all back to the one who saved me.