~By: Shirley Rosario~
Perhaps many of you can identify with me. I’m a wife, mother, and full-time employee. I was driving almost two hours daily, attending church services at least twice a week, going to soccer practices twice a week plus games on Saturdays or Sundays, and more. A lot of the time, I felt very tired and overwhelmed, and I wished to have more time to enjoy with my family. I also desired to do more of the things that I liked, to pray more, and to read the Bible or a book.
Then, the coronavirus crisis began. The first two days that I stayed at home, I watched a lot of news about the disease. I read a lot of articles posted on diverse social media. I saw and read stories about people dying without seeing their families, schools closing, and how the number of people infected was increasing every hour. The stay at home recommendations made me feel so stressed out, and I let fear and worry come into my life.
I stopped to reflect on the time that God was giving me now that I had to stay at home, and the truth was that in my daily endeavors, I had not had the discipline to look at and depend on God.
In the middle of my worries and fear of the unknown, I read Psalm 46, and God reminded me that He is always there for us:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3 NIV
He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 NIV
This psalm assures us that God is our refuge, shelter, and protection. I see God as a good Father who is waiting for His child to come hug Him, and this big hug will make His child feel protected. This is the kind of love that our Heavenly Father wants to give us. In the middle of adversity, we should not be fearful because God is the only living and true God who can protect us, even if the world ends. It is a promise that the God of Israel, our Creator, our Heavenly Father, is always among us. He is merciful, and regardless of our troubles small or big, God will be there to comfort us and show us His endless love.
In the midst of this crisis, I found time, peace, and dependence on God. Instead of trying to figure things out on my own or depend on the news, I decided to trust and praise the One who knows everything. God knows the future and has a plan and purpose for everything. I decided to be more intentional in my prayers and in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am enjoying the drive thru with my family, and I learned to work remotely, but the most important thing is that I am making the effort to spend more time in the presence of God. Now is the time to remain still in his presence, trusting and depending on HIM!
Comments