In your wildest imagination, could you have thought up all the things that are happening in the year 2020? There is plenty to see! Let’s recap:
1. Coronavirus/COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 causes world-wide pandemic.
2. Murder hornets
3. 5G Fears
4. Election year scandals (so many)
5. Protests and riots everywhere
6. Murders and abuse by police and by citizens
7. War on police authority (#defundpolice)
It’s turning out to be one whopper of a year. The FEAR index ( that’s a real thing?) is through the roof. Depression, anxiety and suicide are a now at epidemic proportions. Pharmaceutical companies are starting to run low on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Alcohol sales increased by 22% and drug overdoses have increased. Our children are greatly at risk during this crisis. Hearing about children going to psychiatric hospitals for suicide attempts and seeing a healthy young child or teenager with fear-stricken eyes peering out over their home-made cloth masks is sickening to bear, isn’t it?
There is also the impending financial crisis we must bear because of the shutdown. Retirement accounts are under attack, investments shrink, small businesses lost, and dreams dashed. The news just gets worse, but we won’t got into further details here. You’ve been pin-cushioned enough. While all this seems dire, we have to remember that there is nothing new under the sun. We as a people have experienced difficulties such as this and at much greater levels. We will have to be wise in our approach to resolve our woes and to help others through these times. Where will the wisdom come from?
Is there any good news? Oh yes – there is good news. America has never had so much free time to be with our families. We’ve had time to rethink how we are living and what we can do next in our lives. We’ve had time to know that we miss our friends, families and neighbors. And like it or not – the riots and protests have caused our neighbors to think on past sins of racism and police abuse and how it is still alive in our nation. Now that we know that it is – perhaps we can address it.
There is more good news. There is an outpouring happening in our world of those who are looking to help. And yes, while the churches were closed, we did see a marked increase in all the issues of the world. We need our churches open and more importantly, we need our churches to be more effective in how they minister in these times.
What does this mean for you and me?
Make no mistake – we are under attack. There is much more to all this than appears initially, but we must move on from it. There are more impressing matters. Our salvation and the salvation of others.
God has plans for us. He knows all the things we are going through and can protect us and help us through it if we only put our minds on him. While the cares of this world are overwhelming as of late, now is the best time to turn to Him and read what He says about the times.
The church is still under attack. Many are still closed and many have been watered down so much, they no longer seem relevant to our needs. But just because a church no longer serves well, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t. We are to put our full faith and trust in Him who saves, not man, not a preacher, not a politician, and not a leader of the CDC or a foundation leader who doesn’t really believe.
While the next months ahead may seem stark, just know that you have a God who loves you, who protects you, who guides you. While we are not to put your trust in any man – we do have to love them. We are commanded and commissioned to love others as we were loved by Jesus Christ, who died for us. We are to pick up our cross and follow Him.
So, no, we can’t make it up – it’s the world. It’s the media and it’s crazy. But, you can help others up. you can make a choice today to share the Gospel and share yourself. Who can you help today? Who can you talk with to help settle their fears, anxieties, worries? Who can you reach out to on social media? Perhaps the person in your mind right now was put there by the Holy Spirit for you to help, today?
Let’s rebuild our churches, one faith-sharing, inspiration-inducing, love-growing Christian at a time. Will you be one, today?
You are loved!
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34