“For in him we live, and move, and have our being…” (Acts 17:28a ESV).
It’s like an adventure novel. Covid-19, the Corona Virus, is spreading in all directions across the globe. Fear and widespread panic has engulfed our world. There’s been a rush on supermarkets and hoarding has become almost comical. With all of the shut downs, the quarantines, the shortages of necessities, it’s easy to get frustrated.
There have been times in my life when I became frustrated with God. The irony is that I should have been frustrated with myself, yet somehow the blame fell on Him.
I’ve been frustrated when I saw others prospering while I languished. I’ve been frustrated when I’ve had no answers to my prayers. I’ve been still more frustrated when God answered my prayers with “no”. I’ve even been frustrated when God has said “yes; but not now”.
Perhaps you can identify.
But the truth of the matter is that the One True God was not created for us. We were created for Him! God doesn’t exist to make our lives easier or more pleasant. We exist to bring glory to Him; which makes our lives easier and more pleasant.
When we find ourselves questioning God, when He is not living up to our expectations. When we are dissatisfied with the way He is running the world, we need to ask ourselves if we are worshiping the One True God or are we worshiping a God we ourselves have created.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV).
We can’t begin to figure God out. Therefore we can’t assume that we know best.
Despite everything that is going on, our mission hasn’t changed. There are still people lost in sin’s bondage. How we as Christians respond it difficult times is noticed by the world around us. Let’s use the opportunities we have to respond to fear with faith, confusion with hope, and anger with love. Our witness is never so closely observed as when times are hard.
As always, these are the musings of a mindful disciple. Blessings on your week!
Skipping Stones 
One interesting note, i listened to a webinar this morning on the history of Christian response to epidemics. The speaker began with the startling statement: “The world is back to normal.” By that he meant that in Christian history, what’s normal is having to deal with regular outbreaks of small pox, cholera, bubonic plague, and other diseases. During my lifetime, things have been abnormal in that we’ve haven’t been greatly threatened with such worldwide scourges. In this difficult season, we can adopt what has been by Christ-followers a consistent response of courage and compassion. For example, in the 200’s, the church earned the respect of many in the Roman Empire for its willingness to care for the sick and dying. May this be an influential season for Christians as we love others for Jesus’ sake.
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Amen! It definitely gives us perspective. I’ve been thinking about the isolation that has been imposed on us as a limiting factor in our evangelism. But perhaps it is really an opportunity for us to BE the Church. Thanks for commenting!
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