First of all…
In going through this time of quarantine, I learned first of all to trust God even when I didn’t know anything else. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 Paul admits the same thing;
for we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
It is hard for us, or at least me, to realize that I cannot fix everything. That I am not in charge the circumstances surrounding me. The only person I can control is me.
I have tried my best to abide by the guidelines given to us as. Not because I am afraid for myself, but because I don’t want anyone to have to deal with the struggles, or even death, from this virus. But I do realize that ultimately God is in control of everything around me. And while I don’t like this time of isolation, I have had a lot of time to pray, study, worship and watch some of other churches around me preaching and having church services online.
I am not the most intuitive and talented guy in the world, but I am a guy. I think I can fix everything, even the circumstances of this virus. I have seen how easy it is for me to waste the time that God has given me and just complain about what is going on.
Lesson two…
Secondly I have realized an increase in my faith, not because I do or don’t wear a mask and gloves, but because I trust in God no matter what comes. As scripture says in Ephesians 6:13:
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
We must do what we know to do and have faith in God to take care of what we can’t do. Remember what Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:6-7.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
I feel like my faith has been pushed to the limit and just when I don’t think I can handle anymore, God moves on the scene and turns things around the way He wants it to be.
Lesson three…
Another thing I have learned is that my limits are not God’s limits. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
I use to interpret that scripture to say God will not give me more than I can handle, but through this quarantine time I have realized God wants me to trust Him more in the trial instead of removing the trial from me.
The final lesson…
Finally I was reminded of Romans 8:28:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Something good is going to come out of this and God will be glorified through it. Believing that is a choice we make when we walk by faith in the difficulties we must face.
May God bless you and may you grow in faith during this quarantine time.
