For some time I have been struggling with the impulse to write something of value as we all struggle with the impact of a global pandemic on our personal lives.
I have also read with reservation as people post desperate pleas and shared memes on social media asking for God's intervention and a return to "normal life" that we heretofore took for granted.
While prayer is essential, I am of the conviction that we have been going about it in the wrong way and I'll tell you why.
Unfortunately, it has to be emphasized that those who have favor with the Lord still suffer, and alternately those who have seemingly perfect lives do not always have God's favor. To gain God's favor does not mean that we are free from the hardships of this world. Multiple biblical examples show us that those whom the Lord favors are not free from the world's suffering.
There are many individuals whom God favored in the Bible who still had difficulties. We find hope in the stories of Noah (Genesis 6:8), Moses (Exodus 32:7–14; 33:13), Daniel (Daniel 10:19), and Mary (Luke 1:28), because they were highly favored by God, yet overcame enormous obstacles and hardships. In fact, to call them merely hardships is to undermine how monumental their situations really were.
However, from their stories, we learn that God never leaves those He favors. His favor can be felt in the spirit. With the favor of the Lord, we have peace in our spirits that our sins are forgiven. We can also feel a confidence that no matter what happens to us in this world, that we are within the plan of God, and that He is with us always. As we continue to walk in favor with God, He equips us in our struggles. Our devotion and trust will be justly rewarded.
However, from their stories, we learn that God never leaves those He favors. His favor can be felt in the spirit. With the favor of the Lord, we have peace in our spirits that our sins are forgiven. We can also feel a confidence that no matter what happens to us in this world, that we are within the plan of God, and that He is with us always. As we continue to walk in favor with God, He equips us in our struggles. Our devotion and trust will be justly rewarded.
Since God knows what is best for our lives, He will not say “yes” to a prayer that goes against what is best. We may not understand or agree with the why of that response, but we can trust what God does and that His actions will rebound to His glory and our ultimate good. Through painful moments in life, we can learn Christlikeness and glorify the Lord with our words and actions even through our suffering.
Now, I'm getting to the point I really want to make.
It is easy to turn on the TV and spend an hour watching the news, and before you know it, you’re in one of two places. Panic is setting in or indifference is taking root. The reality, though, is people are hurting and there’s more to come. There’s reason to be concerned and there’s even more reason to pray.
Prayer and wise decision-making is what will carry us through the unfolding waves of COVID-19 as it and its variants spread across the world.
The goal here, as many of you have already learned, is to “flatten the curve” — to spread out the number of likely infections from this novel coronavirus so our hospitals and clinics won’t be overrun, forcing those in need of critical care (for COVID-19 or anything else) from receiving it. Doing that involves taking seriously the calls for social distancing, which is avoiding any unnecessary travel or gatherings, embracing frequent hand-washing, and, outside of seeking medical care, receiving vaccines when available and remaining quarantined if you begin to experience symptoms of any kind.
It is easy to turn on the TV and spend an hour watching the news, and before you know it, you’re in one of two places. Panic is setting in or indifference is taking root. The reality, though, is people are hurting and there’s more to come. There’s reason to be concerned and there’s even more reason to pray.
Prayer and wise decision-making is what will carry us through the unfolding waves of COVID-19 as it and its variants spread across the world.
The goal here, as many of you have already learned, is to “flatten the curve” — to spread out the number of likely infections from this novel coronavirus so our hospitals and clinics won’t be overrun, forcing those in need of critical care (for COVID-19 or anything else) from receiving it. Doing that involves taking seriously the calls for social distancing, which is avoiding any unnecessary travel or gatherings, embracing frequent hand-washing, and, outside of seeking medical care, receiving vaccines when available and remaining quarantined if you begin to experience symptoms of any kind.
God expects us to do our part! But it’s important we continue to pray in the days and weeks to come, as we learn more about COVID-19 and its impacts on our society. Rather than praying for a miraculous end to this terrible imposition on our lives that after all may well have been of God's making and for reasons known only to Him, we would be well advised instead to:
-- Pray for those currently infected with COVID-19 and those in high-risk communities
-- Pray for medical personnel and caretakers
-- Pray for our leaders and health experts
-- Pray for our leaders and health experts
-- Pray for the spread of the Gospel that needs to be heard now more than ever.
Those are the prayers that God truly hears...and answers.
He will end the pandemic when He feels the world has proven that it is ready and that we all have learned something from our experience.
In the end, the new normal will be what we make of it. We may even grow to like it, especially those of the upcoming generation who will have known no other way.
There's a whole new world in the offing...
Because God has willed it so!
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