Tonight I sit and think to myself, “What will the next 30 days bring”? After being in a career for over 27 years , I have been mandated to stay at home. Many questions go through my mind. “Will I have career when I go back to work after the mandate is lifted”? “Will I have to start all over again just like someone starting out in the industry”?Many people are asking themselves these questions. Many are experiencing a “new normal” or a “drastic change” in their lives. How do we walk down the road many of us find ourselves going down? How can we help others who find themselves on the same path? Let’s take a look at God’s Word and see if we can unpack the answers.
First, we can find over 300 verses in the Bible that tell us in one way or another to “fear not”. Isaiah 41:13-14 paints a beautiful picture of what God does for us when we are fearful. The Scripture says, “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. Do not fear; I will help you declares the Lord, your Redeemer.” (New International Version). It is comforting to know He is ready and able to take our hand and guide us down an unknown path. Our new path of uncertainty can seem overwhelming and we cannot see the outcome in our finite minds. But God can, for He is an all-knowing, all-seeing God. Mark 10:27 says, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (English Standard Version).
Second, we know God is faithful. How many times have we thought to ourselves, “this is just too hard”? Yet, even though we did not know how we would make it through, we did. God was faithful the whole way through the circumstances we were facing. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one (Satan).” (New International Version). God will always provide a way of escape from the evil one. When we face circumstances beyond our control it is easy to fall into the lies Satan tries to whispers to us.
In times of chaos and uncertainty, we forget to think about what possibilities lie on the other side of what we are going through. What if instead of fret and worry, we look forward to what lies ahead and consider creating a new normal? What is something we are doing now we would like to correct in the next few weeks, so that when we resume our work schedules we have less stress and more fulfilled days? Pressing into the One who holds our future is a great place to start. Slowing down may be just what He has in mind for all of us, so we should probably stop and listen.
I know in my own life I have in recent years taken on way too much and tried to do way too much. Recently, I got so sick I stayed home from work for two days and rested. Staying home when I could have pushed myself and gone to work is out of character for me. But in my heart I knew it was the right thing to do. I listened to body for a change and decided to do what it was screaming for…rest! Now that I have to stay home, I want to make the best of the time and rest and take on the task of really getting my house organized, so that when I return to work my life can be as stress-free as possible.
Maybe God is giving us all the chance to hit the do-over button!
Digging Deeper 