6 minute read
God's Goodness in a Time of Pandemic
SIDE BY SIDE
Barb DeLew
What a year this has been with all the struggles related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the year is in the rearview mirror, I wanted to give thanks to God, but struggled with how COVID-19 and this pandemic brought anything into my life for which to be thankful. And yet
Lord, please show me your goodness through this past year. He did.
1. Our good God is our protector. My medical doctor husband suddenly became a frontline worker. I watched him leave the house each morning for the job God had given him, and it created anxiety. Our new routine included prayers for "a bubble of protection" around him each morning, and I visually placed him in God's hands as he left for work. The trust of the Lord grew within me.
2. I realized each day I needed to make sure I exercised and got fresh air. and I have an energetic dog that needs exercise. We walked together as many days as we could, and I found myself talking to God. I discovered that when I looked up at the sky and had fewer distractions, I could focus and center my thoughts on him as I walked. My prayer life grew deeper and richer as I drew near to him and he drew near to me.
3. Our good God wants us to cast our burdens on him and leave them at his feet. We are so thankful that all four of our adult children and one daughter-in-law were able to work from home. However, there are still struggles—and even more so with the isolation. I answered phones calls about their personal struggles, career decisions and just plain disappointment with the way things were. If you are a mom, you know that you just want to run to them and be the help that is needed and fix it—but I couldn't. So, what to do? Pray! As a result, I have seen so many answers to prayer—to specific prayers for their well-being and their souls.
4. God works—even and especially through technology. I have been a Women's Bible Study co-leader for many years and did not want to have to give that up this year. I was paired with a new co-leader who preferred not to attend WBS in-person and Zoom entered my world. Each Wednesday morning, I meet with 15 wonderful, faithful women to study the Book of Genesis. Our conversations are rich and beautiful as we consider and see how God uses his weak people to accomplish his promises, and we usually have 100% attendance. I've been able to invite neighbors and out-of town family who are reticent to go to church, to worship with me at virtual Sunday services. I think of those who cannot or should not be in a social setting in these pandemic days due to their circumstances and am grateful that they have a way to worship each Sunday online.
5. Our good God shares his wisdom when we ask for it. As I wrestled with the new restrictions that COVID brought and how to respond, it amazed me to see how many strong and differing attitudes there were to the situation in which we all found ourselves. And how much unknown and uncertainty we were dealing with this new virus. Lord, how should I respond, or should I say anything at all?
As I prayed, I remembered the JOY acronym I learned years ago - Jesus, Others and You - and that became my guiding principle. Put Jesus first, others second and myself last. I would take all COVID precautions because Jesus taught me to put the concern of others first. The mask is hot and uncomfortable, and not what I prefer, but my neighbor’s safety comes before my own self-interests—with no grumbling.
6. I learned more about myself, and our good God brought blessing from that lesson. I discovered just how much of an introvert I was and was happy to busy myself with projects at home with the extra down time. I am involved in the Sideby-Side ministry with Pastor Eric Channing, and I had been meeting with several women from time to time. Suddenly, the pandemic was upon us, and person-to-person meetings halted.
I must confess that it would have been very easy for me to just end these meetings with these sisters in Christ that the Lord had brought into my life and busy myself with, well, myself. But no, we found creative ways through Zoom, Facetime or just that old-fashioned phone call to meet and pray. I now had a new routine within my days of solitude that blessed an introvert like me.
7. Our good God taught me about others who don’t look like me. I grew up in the 60s and certainly saw the negative side of racism. But I never took time to read and learn more about the whole issue. I finally had the time and went on a "cultural awareness journey" and read recommended books, listened to podcasts and watched videos to learn the history and life of someone who doesn’t look like me or have the privileges I have. I learned about the ugliness of racism and the beauty of the gospel in changed hearts and reconciliation. Lord, open my eyes and heart to perceive the world from more than my own eyes.
8. Our good God showed me the special blessing of marriage. As empty nesters for many years now, it’s just the husband, the dog and me. A year ago, I realized that the three of us would be spending a lot of time alone together in the pandemic. My marriage took on more meaning as a relationship that would need to be more than just “good” after 40 years. Lord, help us both to show even more grace and more mercy toward one another in these crazy days. (And, yes, I have found myself talking to the dog more lately.)
A little over 21 years ago, our family of six, four of them between 6-14 years of age, embarked on a six-month medical missions adventure to Kenya. At that time my husband chose Jeremiah 29:11 as the Bible verse to guide us in those days of so many unknowns and challenges. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
And even more so in these pandemic times, I have realized that the Lord’s plan is for good and our “well” fare. Even through these days of suffering and distress, he has given me a future and a hope as I see his goodness shine through this pandemic, and I “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)
