This is a pretty extraordinary moment—for many of us everything outside our regular jobs has been cancelled: conferences, sports, activities, weddings, vacations, graduations, church.
Like it or not, we’ve had to let go of our plans. Heaven forbid that we pick up our lives on the other side of this crisis without pausing to ask what God might be up to.
Psalm 46:10 says it this way:
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
May we seize this moment when much of the traffic of our lives has ceased as a holy reset, turning our gaze away from the press of our own lives to the bigger picture of what is unfolding.
What would a holy reset look like in this moment?
We remember that we are in a BATTLE.
Sickness does not originate from God. Viruses, cancer, accidents made their entrance here on earth at the fall of creation. Though these natural consequences of the fall are playing out around us, God determines the limits of their destruction and in fact, uses them to bring about His purposes. At different points in the Bible, we see God lifting the “hedge of protection,” sometimes for testing (Job 1:10–12), sometimes because of sin (1 Chronicles 21:14–22), and other times so the consequences of the fall give way for God’s power to be displayed (John 9:1–3).
Let’s just make sure we’re clear that this rapidly mutating, deadly virus does not come from the heart of God. Nor does the death, fear, panic, and economic destruction that comes along with it. All these come straight from the heart of the one who comes to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10).
We recognize that our worlds are being SHAKEN.
One Jewish Christian described a picture he had recently of seeing Jesus give one big shake of the world in a sifting basket. Sifting happens because something needs to be sifted out.
Pay attention to what is surfacing in this time in you that needs to be sifted: radical individualism, self-sufficiency, economic security, ability to control your plans, ability to control other people’s plans. Where are you being called to surrender in new ways?
After sifting, what remains is the “unshakeable Kingdom”—a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by pandemics, economic crisis, or even death.
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more indicate the removing of what can be shaken … so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’ (Hebrews 12:26–29).
This pandemic may be a practice run for greater challenges that will be on the horizon in this century. May we each allow the shaking to have its full effect, so we can live from our unshakeable position in Christ!
We are learning SUBMISSION.
We in the West haven’t had a huge amount of experience with having our freedoms curtailed. Quarantine, lock-downs, and social distancing will surface some interesting responses for many of us. Some automatically toe the line out of fear or caution. Others find this whole thing ridiculous. And our judgment of people who view things differently will be our knee jerk response under crisis.
I come from a community of risk-taking, front-line workers who live in areas of increased poverty and violence. Most of my friends are not afraid of the coronavirus. But our organization asked that we submit our risk-taking natures to the care of the most vulnerable in our society by honoring the requests of the governments wherever we are living around the globe. This is the moment where we say, “This isn’t about just me and my freedoms anymore.”
Submission to authority means we do what we are asked even if we disagree. Submission to authority means we subject certain values (i.e. freedom, personal agendas) to a different value for a season (i.e. caring for the vulnerable in our society, trusting the medical community who knows more about this than we do, obeying our government because it’s biblical). Our core values of independence and individualism are being sifted in this moment—lean into it.
We are invited to EMBRACE OUR LIFE STAGE as an appointed moment in this global crisis.
Some of us will have more space than usual in our everyday lives for quiet and reflection. Singles, retirees, empty nesters—it falls to us to pick up the prayer mantel for this season as much as possible. Don’t get sucked into immersing in the news. Immerse yourself in scripture. Find the promises in scripture and hold them as banners in faith over your family, community, and nation.
Of course, if you have young children at home, you will not be having more time for prayer—if anything you will have less time. But even that is appointed. You’ve just been given a several week (months?) boot camp of development for them and you. Let’s make it count. I’m not talking about adding more things to the homeschooling list. Just ask God to open your eyes to the role your child may have to play in displaying the glory of God. These are the kids who will inherit this crazy, new world. Our job is to root them, equip them, and prepare them. Remember, their gifts are in raw, undeveloped form. That kid who drives you absolutely batty with his/her incessant “why” questions may someday be developing a vaccine for the next world-threatening virus. The child who is so concerned about the neighbors on your block may be called to shepherd a “flock” someday. Boldness may look like sass; drive may look like ADHD; catalyzing may look like mischief; discernment may look like anxiety; connectedness may look like clinginess. The seeds of their calling are surfacing: Watch for them. Affirm them. Bless them. Be patient with them. Your job in this unfolding crisis is to love and form the next generation—and the rest of us are praying for you!
We are invited to acknowledge our DEPENDENCE on the mercy of God.
As my friend Dora said, there are different types of repentance. Sometimes it’s conviction that we know we have sinned. Other times it’s just a fall on your face kind of repentance where we acknowledge we are desperate, helpless people, wholly dependent on the mercy of God.
In small ways and large, we have to acknowledge our future is no longer in our control. Whether you believe this pandemic is an exaggerated or a necessary response, our lives are experiencing major disruption.
The care-givers in our community (i.e. medical professionals, truckers, grocers) may sacrifice their lives in order for others to live.
Some of our elders will experience death through this virus.
Many are not sure how their bills will be paid in coming months.
The world may spin into a global recession.
Our graduating college seniors now face student loans with a world heading towards economic recession.
Non-profit workers may experience a down-turn in giving.
Retirement funds may be significantly depleted.
This is a moment we recognize we’re not as invincible as we thought.
This is a moment where we turn to an omnipresent God who waits to eagerly step into our lives to aid, comfort, and strengthen. God’s help is not dependent on our goodness or faithfulness; it emerges from his very character which is full of compassion, mercy and loving-kindness. However it is dependent on us turning toward him. Repentance in its simplest form means to turn from our own ways back toward God. This is where we respond to the still, small voice in our hearts: “Return to Me. You don’t have to do this on your own.”
Ultimately, this pandemic is a great equalizer. Every one of us from the oldest to the youngest, from the richest to the poorest, is invited to admit our frailty and to acknowledge our need for God.
May Daniel 9:18–19 become our prayer in coming days:
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant…Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Galloway and her husband Alex have three daughters and live in Málaga, Spain. They serve together with Novo’s staff care team, SentWell, running a hub for missionaries that provides counseling, training, leadership and transition coaching, and spiritual direction. Amy writes a blog on life transitions called Beautiful Upheaval, where this reflection was originally posted.