Being Still In the Midst of Chaos

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.

Psalm 46:10

We are living in a very confusing and unexpected time. Some of us are scared and worried about how we’ll be able to pay our rent and bills next month while others are currently in the battlefield of the worst pandemic probably since both the Black Plague and Spanish Influenza. Either way, we are all affected.

Before the stay-at-home mandate took place, I was celebrating my 29th birthday. A week later Michigan would be 3rd highest in COVID-19 cases. I knew me panicking and stocking up on toilet paper would not help. The only answer to fear is faith.

When my job started reducing hours and furloughing employees, I had issues getting through to unemployment. But when I finally got through I was denied because I didn’t select the updated employee information. Little did I know the Lord heard my cry and didn’t need unemployment for the next 2 weeks.

Incorporate prayer instead of fear and worry (2 Timothy 1:7). It’s vital that while the whole world is at a standstill, spiritually we are flourishing.

Most churches are streaming online and even have started online communities due to us being unable to be together at this time

Listen to the soft whispers from the Holy Spirit telling us to be still.  Close your eyes, slowly inhale and exhale slowly. Turn your heart back to Christ. A few days ago, I saw this on my Instagram that it’s been 40 days since we’ve been in quarantine. Quarantine in Italian (“quarantina”) means 40 days. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days, the children of Israel walked in the wilderness for 40 years, and Jesus fasted for 40 days. The number 40 is usually associated with the testing of our faith. We tend to forget that we serve a God who sent 10 plagues in Egypt and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He’s still the same God yesterday, today, and forevermore.

There is a reason why all of this is happening.

It’s not to hurt or punish us but as previously stated to redirect us. When was the last time you had a whole day where you spent it with God?

Notice this pandemic is not affecting just the United States but the whole world.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

While I do not know when this will end, I believe many miracles are taking place even now. We won’t understand it until we are on the other side. In the meantime, Be still.