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esus Never Said was hankful asy
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by Julie Dibble
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hen COVID first hit, everyone panicked. Churches and schools secured their doors. Businesses were caught between the concurrent need for stability and a disease-free sanctuary. Personally, grocery trips were particularly anxiety-provoking. I had heard of people sanitizing each grocery item before bringing it into the house. I wanted to be cautious, not because I worried for myself, but I didn’t want to bring anything home to my husband and boys. The first Sunday after the shut-down, I let everyone I could think of know that I would be preaching in the parking lot of the church. In the words of Paul, “God’s word is not chained,” (2 Timothy 2:9) nor will it ever pass away. Meanwhile, as many of us did, I prayed for God to lift this plague, this global pandemic wrought with tendrils slithering down its victims’ lungs. I believed God not only could lift it but that He would do it as He did through Moses for Pharaoh (Exodus 9:13-16). Time wore on, though, as if in slow motion. I recall opening our front door one Saturday to see no sign of life walking, doing yard work, or even driving. An eerie stillness had overcome our town. I am thankful for the discernment God has given me. When stillness is eerie, it is not His presence you are in. I asked my Lord: What are You doing, God? More practically, what do You want us to do? When you consider this temporary, difficult life from heaven’s perspective, Holy Spirit leads you in word, thought and action to be pleasing to Him. Jesus never said it would be easy to remain thankful in situations in which the enemy has cornered so many in fear, in which God has allowed many to lose their lives. Yet Jesus is holy and perfect. His Word says have faith and … even if it is just the size of a miniscule mustard seed, you, too, can live victoriously through Him (Matthew 17:20). If we are honest in our confessions, we know what it takes to be thankful in all things. The Global Advocate 5
