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Carried Along
A blog about real life through the lens of Christ
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Jessica Roan – My new post for enCourage. | Facebook
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I didn’t mean to; it was a reflex. I just hadn’t seen her in a while, and before I knew it, I hugged her-in a grocery store! I felt so bad. What if I am sick and don’t know it? What if she somehow gets COVID from that one thoughtless act? A few months ago, I saw two ladies greet each other in Walmart. They instinctively went in for a hug and stopped short, looking around to see if anyone was watching. They didn’t hug. We are not supposed to. Hugging has gone from a kind greeting, a comforting act to a hateful one. Just like that.
Now, I’ll admit, a germophobe is something I’ve never been, thus the reason I’ve chosen to spend my days in a place with 1500 teens, but I am concerned. Yes, I am concerned about the growing COVID numbers around me, but I am also concerned that we are naively forbidding proximity, touch, and yes, hugs in an already tragically lonely world. What will the last six months of reduced physical touch do to us, the already lonely, and our children? And how do we recover from this lack of touch when we are being told that this reduced affection must continue for at least the next year, resulting in a permanent change in our habits? The sad truth? We are already changed.
In August, a study of the mental health effects of COVID and its related restrictions done in June which reported, “Elevated levels of adverse mental health conditions, substance use, and suicidal ideation were reported by adults in the United States in June 2020. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder was approximately three times those reported in the second quarter of 2019 (25.5% versus 8.1%), and prevalence of depressive disorder was approximately four times that reported in the second quarter of 2019 (24.3% versus 6.5%) . . . and approximately one in 10 reported that they started or increased substance use because of COVID-19. Suicidal ideation was also elevated; approximately twice as many respondents reported serious consideration of suicide in the previous 30 days than did adults in the United States in 2018 . . .”(https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm).
With society in such a state with no end in sight, touch such as hugs may be more important than ever. The following are some of the benefits of touch reported in this 2018 article by Medical News Today, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323143:
- Touch soothes children during times of distress. A study from Sweden showed that hugging and patting children has a “soothing effect”. These acts of physical affection “allow the child in distress to regain a sense of security and reassurance” and may make counseling efforts more effective.
- Touch improves general health. Several areas of benefit are mentioned here such as lower blood pressure and heart rates as well as less severe reactions to infections and protection against respiratory illnesses. Wow! Maybe instead of reducing touch to protect from COVID, we should increase it.
- Touch reduces pain. The article reports, “The first study — which appeared in the journal Scientific Reports in 2017 — showed that if two partners touch and one of them experiences mild pain, the touch actually diminishes the sensation of pain.” Just considering the number of patients and nursing home residents whose loved ones are banned from accompanying them during times of pain and distress is heartbreaking and may actually be causing more suffering as this report shows.
- Touch is a crucial part of any relationship. In short, the article concludes, “So, offering a reassuring hug to a person who is in pain or feeling down can actually benefit both the receiver and the giver; both people involved in the interaction experience more positive emotions and feel more strongly connected to each other”. Considering that meaningful relationships are now considered the number one factor in longevity, more than any physical component, going touchless could endanger more than it saves.
The restrictions placed on society because of COVID-19 are unprecedented. In additions to school closures and “mandates”, the message that any touch like hugging is now a hateful act, putting others at risk for infection-even death- is widespread. So, we don’t hug. My son did not hug his teachers on the last day of school, he does not get hugs from his Sunday school teachers or people from church, even hugs from his grandparents are greatly reduced. The saddest part? His best friend has always been a hugger. He would hug him almost every day when they got to school, until March. He hasn’t hugged him since. How can this drastic change in behavior not affect us all, indefinitely?
The answer? I honestly don’t have one. All I know is we all need hugs more than ever before, and it isn’t happening. Even parents are told to “stay away” from their children in their own homes in order to prevent infection. What does 10 days of no contact with a parent do to an infant, a toddler, even an older child? I know, they call this distancing of ourselves “loving”, but is it really? This pandemic is not just physical but mental as well, and instead of protecting our health, the villainizing of a simple hug is creating irreparable damage.
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When we find out we’re going to be a parent, planning immediately ensues. Is it a boy or girl? Will she like sports, or music, or both? Who will she look like? And we begin to dream about what we will buy her, the activities she will do, what her first day of kindergarten will look like. Yes, we might have a concern here or there based on challenges others have had, but, more often than not, we will brush them aside and choose a Pollyanna-type optimism instead. All parents find out in one defining moment or another, however, that our Utopian vision of parenting was just that, a vision, nothing more.
While all of us mourn the “perfect child” we had imagined, some parents’ idealistic hopes and dreams are lost in a different way. Instead of the “terrible twos” or speech issues, some find out at birth, or even in the womb, that their child has physical and/or developmental issues while others discover as their child develops that she has a disability that will impact the rest of her life. Even others observe shocking signs of mental illness in their seemingly “normal” teen. A variety of questions pop up in these scenarios. “Will my child be able to learn and play normally?” “Will she be bullied” “Can she go to college?” “Will I have to care for her long-term?” “Will she be able to work, get married, have a family?’
After years of talking to parents of students on the phone, in person, in IEP and 504 meetings, it is safe to say that many parents are filled with fear and trepidation when they learn their child has special needs. As a veteran teacher who spent many years with these unique kids, I would like to thank parents of these wonderful people, thank them for sharing their children with me. These kids, more than any others, have reminded me of the truths of the gospel in so many ways.
- They have taught me the beauty of God’s creation.
Diversity makes the world go round. Many of us, through no fault of our own, however, miss out on interacting with a diverse cross-section of people. One of my favorite aspects of teaching in a public school is diversity. While I thoroughly enjoy getting to know students with different backgrounds and talents, I also love being in a place that celebrates ALL students, especially those with special needs. Whether it is those whose smiling faces greet me as I walk into school, those who deliver needed items to my room or those I teach, the opportunity to appreciate those with autism, Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, mental health challenges, and many more have shown me God’s grand design made perfect in weakness. Many of us have memorized Psalm 139:14 saying, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” The interactions I have had with these unique individuals have helped me not only appreciate them but value the role they play in my life and my community. They are truly “wonderfully made”.
2. They remind me that God is always with me.
When people outside of the school system tell me how difficult it must be to teach, I don’t know what to say. Sure, there are days that are challenging, but as someone who struggles with depression, I have to say that working with those who are differently abled has shown me God’s promises in a different way. Prayer is an integral part of my personal life as well at my professional life. There are always situations I’m not sure how to handle or students I can’t help the way I want to. As I pray for them, I am reminded of the promises God has made. For me, life has been relatively easy. For many of my students, life is a daily struggle. Whether it be physical, mental, or social challenges, I am reminded and challenged to apply these to all of God’s children despite the circumstances. Can I honestly say, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified . . . for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” (2 Chronicles 32:7) and mean it? Every time? Even when the future is unsure or the obstacles seem too big? Praying through these challenges-schizophrenia, severe anxiety or depression, a lifetime in a wheelchair-has bolstered my faith. When God says, “ . . . and lo I am with you always”, it is for all of his children. After years of observing and interacting with them, I am more sure of it than ever.
3. They remind me to believe in miracles.
Just last Sunday, our sermon was about the healing of the lame man at the temple in Acts. In this story, Peter tells him, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk”. The result? He leaped up, “stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3: 6-8). Sadly, I was reminded how immune I am to the miracles of God at this time in my life. Do I see miracles? Yes. Of course. In my years of teaching, I have witnessed more than I can count. Just recently I interacted with a student I had a few years ago in class. When he was younger, he was angry, checked out, reluctant, but not now. He is mature, responsible and performing well in his academics. Another time I had to do a return at a local retail store. Right before my eyes, one of my most challenging special education students was performing complex tasks I would never have dreamed he could do when he was 13. If I stop to think about it, my mind is flooded with examples of students with so many obstacles not only persevering but succeeding. For many years, I prayed for my students, not knowing if God could do the miracle I was asking for. Now, I know that he does miracles every day, even when I don’t ask. If I didn’t know these important individuals, I would never had witnessed these miracles.
4. They have taught me perseverance.
Heroes come in many shapes and sizes. They are first responders, teachers, parents, health care professionals, and Walmart employees-especially during a pandemic. For me heroes are different. Every day I get to interact with teens who have survived divorce, abuse, neglect, and a myriad of disabilities. I cannot put into words the deep admiration I have for the way they have overcome so many obstacles. While they battle depression or anxiety, struggle to read, wonder how to fit in, or require help to write or visit the bathroom, they keep striving to learn and grow towards the future they dream of. When I encounter the verse, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds . . . “ (James 1:2), I can think of a handful of moments in which I’ve actually had to apply it. These students? They face trials of many kinds daily. How do they face them? With patience, hard work, and a smile. Whenever I feel like I just can’t take one more step, the thought of their faithful perseverance in trials inspires me to move on.
5. They have taught me joy.
If you asked me the most important lesson I’ve learned from teaching children with special needs, it is one word: joy. Nothing comes easy for this population. They are different, they struggle to fit in and keep up. Whether they struggle to read, concentrate, maintain emotional control, get along socially, or accomplish simple tasks, life can seem like an uphill battle they will never win. Their reaction? They enjoy a simple song or movie, they smile, they laugh, they make jokes, they forgive those who’ve judged them, hurt them, excluded them and move on in joy. Whenever I have a bad day, their contagious joy reminds me to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) and “Count it all joy . . . when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). If they can do it, amidst all of their struggles, why can’t I?
Life in a fallen world is, well, harsh, to say the least. The current climate of society in general is negative. The media bombards us daily with a fire house of bad news. For parents of kids with special needs, the daily struggle is more than many of us can understand. So, thank you. Thank you for all you do. Not only is my classroom enhanced by their presence, but my life, even my faith in God, is enriched beyond explanation for knowing your child. Thank you so much for sharing them with me. They have taught me far more than I’ve taught them.
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I couldn’t be a Christian parent in 2020 without being a part of the eternal discussion of how to school our children. Many of our believing friends home school or private school, and with COVID, many more are opting out of public education for many valid reasons. As a public school teacher and believer, I thought I had heard all of the sides of the debate in their entirety until recently when a well-known Christian organization published a post in favor of Protestant schools over all others, especially public school. The contents of the post were moralistic in nature, focusing on purely behavioral and marital statistics rather than the gospel, but as I read it, I realized that many in the home school or private school world may not understand WHY my family and many others choose to attend public school.
This post I read asserted that Christian parents put their kids in public school to be missionaries-a choice that often ends up corrupting them morally. Now, there are many reasons we public school, but I can truly say it has very little to do with missions. The following are some of the ACTUAL reasons we have chosen this route:
- This is where we are called to be. I have been mentoring and working with kids since I was 17 years-old. I loved college, but when I entered the public school for my student teaching, I knew it was where I was meant to be. I have taught everything from severely emotionally disturbed students to honors level and everything in between and have loved every minute of it. Yes, I have encountered a myriad of challenges along the way, but I have no doubt in my mind that God wants me to serve and be in community with all of the diverse people a public school serves, and we believe he wants our children there as well.
- Sin is original. While we teach our children the faith, take them to church, pray with and for them, we know that ” . . .sin came into the world through one man” (Romans 5:12) and ” . . . all have sinned a fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). I don’t believe our theology is wrong in interpreting this ALL to mean not only those in public school, but in private schools, home school coops and sports teams as well. We do not believe that sending them to public schools is “throwing them to the wolves” as some may say, but empowering them to rely on us, the Lord and their Christian community (some in the public school itself) to help them live wisely in a diverse and challenging world.
- Public school offers the most diversity. At first glance, a community can seem fairly homogeneous, but a public school soon reveals how diverse it really is. This experience allows kids to meet people from different races, creeds, family structures, ability levels and orientations more than any other. As a teacher, my exposure to the diversity of the students I teach has enriched my life. I have a greater appreciation for all of God’s creation and the ways he is working in different groups within my community. For my children, the blessing of getting to know others from different backgrounds helps them empathize with and appreciate those who grew up differently than they did, some of whom are fellow believers we would never meet anywhere else. A significant portion of our population are being raised by single, divorced, LGBT parents, grandparents or other family members, foster families, and even group homes. Besides the cultural and socioeconomic diversity represented, much of the special education in our society is only present in public schools. Relationships with these valuable populations is paramount in teaching my children to appreciate all of God’s creation. Our prayer is that getting to know these students from a variety of backgrounds will help them appreciate rather than fear all of God’s creation and truly “bare one another’s burdens” as members of the community as well as the broader Christian community, which is always more diverse than we think. In our church, we pray “your kingdom come” every week. When we get to Heaven, we will be worshiping with a diverse crowd of brothers and sisters from every “tribe and tongue” who have had a myriad of backgrounds. So, why wait until Heaven? Why not start now?
- Public school blesses my family. Our city has many wonderful teachers. The teachers my children have had throughout elementary school are skilled, fun, and compassionate. They have truly made learning a blessing. My prayer is that my kids bless them, and the other students as well, by actively learning, helping others and being leaders in their classrooms. When they graduate, my kids will be well-educated and better people because of the influence of the public teachers in their lives.
There is no doubt a doubt in my mind that Christians and many others will be debating the best schooling options until Christ’s return. Our family has many friends who haven’t chosen public schools. As a part of the Christian family, we fully appreciate the many valid reasons people have for choosing different schooling options, but we have no doubt that public school is where we are meant to be.
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I don’t know about you, but I am tired. Weary of many things, many circumstances I expected to be better by now, back to “normal”. It is times like these, times of seemingly endless waiting, that the promises of God we daily take for granted are our only hope. Here are five I am meditating on today. I hope they encourage you as much as they did me.
- We have salvation in Christ alone.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. God gives us strength when we are weak.
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases his strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
3. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Romans 8:37-38
. . . in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. God gives us rest when we are weary.
Matthew 11: 28-29
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
5. God has overcome the world.
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
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As a public school teacher, I have had the privilege of meeting some remarkable individuals. It never ceases to amaze me, the determination some of my students show as they face disabilities, neglect, abuse, mental illness, death, etc. . . . At such a young age, they just keep moving forward, fighting for their futures when most of us would have thrown in the towel.
In March of this year, I fully believed the yard signs posted saying, “This Too Shall Pass”. I honestly posted comments to my struggling students saying, “This won’t last forever”. But it seems “this” is going to last a while. And we are tired. There are those who have always had to endure hardship. From the day they were born, they have struggled just to survive, but for me, the verse, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8) has been a mere abstraction. Most of my struggles have truly been “momentary”.
So, now as I parent two boys and teach teenagers, I feel such a burden knowing that I can no longer assure them that the stress they are feeling will soon be gone. I can’t tell them when life will return to “normal” or if “normal” will ever return. School, activities, work, even church are all different and will be, for the foreseeable future. So, how do I teach them to persevere when I’m not even sure how myself?
Recently my students read “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr. In this well-known piece from the Civil Rights Movement, he mentions the perseverance of the prophets, Paul, Martin Luther and Christ himself. In Hebrews 11, Paul mentions the faithful fathers of our faith. From Abel to Noah, and Abraham to Jacob, the blind faith of these men is listed one by one. This passage is filled with phrases like “yet unseen”, “not knowing where he was going”, and “as good as dead” and reminds us that “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth . . . Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11: 7-16).
As I review these verses I am reminded that I am failing miserably. Failing to choose faith instead of despair as these men did and to model that to those around me. Failing to realize that this “light momentary affliction” is a part of God’s plan to “prepare” me “for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4: 17).
Lord, I do not have the strength to persevere in faith during these trying times. I am weary and prone to despair. Please give me the faith to pray “help me in my unbelief” (Mark 9:24) like the father in Mark so that I will not only persevere but display the truth that you have already “overcome the world” (John 16:33).
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It happens every four years. And no matter what we told ourselves after the last election, we all fall for the lie again and add at least one “Savior” to our list-at least until the election. They say history repeats itself, and elections are a vivid example of this. We all saw it four years ago, conservatives and liberals alike, the absurd way we let the election run our lives, strain (or ruin) our relationships, overrun us spiritually. We worshipped an idol-some politician who God definitely wanted, maybe even had “ordained”.
And many of us vowed, to ourselves or others, that we wouldn’t do it again. “Next time I won’t get so involved, allow my perspective to be so skewed by the hype and abandon what I know to be true: I already have a savior, and he is more than enough”, we told ourselves.
Then, six months ago, COVID showed up with its shutdowns and quarantines, accompanied by police brutality, protests turned to riots, and cities were burned (not to mention the entire West coast). And here we are again, four years later. Sadly, we haven’t learned. We see the unrest, the violence, the continual destruction, and we can’t help ourselves. We know that we promised ourselves the last time, but the draw is too tempting, too seductive, and we just have to partake. Because how could God allow all of this to happen? Could his plans still prevail with “so-and-so” in office? Surely, he needs our help convincing those around us to see it our way. Heaven must be a twitter with concern, dreading the outcome of this ever-important election. Not to mention, the election scandals already taking place. Then, what will God do if “His man or woman” doesn’t win? And the gospel goes out the window again, at least until November 5th, or 6th.
While New Testament is filled with reminders to the church to return to Christ, its “first love”, admonitions against getting caught up in “civilian affairs”, much of the church in America justifies complete idolatry in this season. Sure, we know the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). We have heard the warnings saying, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you . . “ (1 John 2:24), and “ . . . you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4), but we are so convinced, so blinded by our circumstances that we “exchange the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25) and put a politician or ideology above Christ, above the gospel.
Now don’t get me wrong. We are to be concerned about our country and communities, and we should vote. Some of us may even be called to politics. The error lies not in our participation in our communities but in our hearts. In seasons such as this, we must ask ourselves and others who our savior is, remind each other that we have already been completely redeemed. We don’t need saving. Not only are we “free” in Christ, our Father in heaven is in complete control of our circumstances, even this all-important election. As Lamentations explains, “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Why should a living man complain?” (Lamentations 3:37-39). Simply put, God’s sovereign plan to redeem his people will continue, even if our favored politician, our “savior” doesn’t win.
So, in this season of great division and emotion, my prayer is that this time, this election, I will remember my first love, love my neighbor (regardless of their political leanings), trust God’s sovereignty, and vote. I want to wake up the day after the election without regret, knowing I trusted my savior faithfully, keeping my eyes on his throne instead of one inhabited by another man/woman I temporarily abandoned him for.
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It took me a while to notice. I mean, the first week back at work was such a whirlwind with new protocols, last minute schedule changes and the typical business of a new school year, and I’ll admit, I was fairly inward-focused, drowning in all I needed to get done. In the midst of this, one of my former students came to drop off a book, and stayed. He honestly didn’t like my class much last year, but he wanted to talk to me, tell me about his new schedule. He was happy to be back. And it kept happening, students stopping by just to say “Hi” and catch up a bit, some I hadn’t seen in a year.
It took only one day since the students had returned to the building, one day of staring at masked faces grasping at any semblance of normal life, and I had an epiphany-people are struggling. They are lonely, insecure, looking. Looking for direction in an uncertain world where everything they have known has changed, and any plan can be cancelled on a moment’s notice. And I felt a wave of responsibility. While I am wallowing in self-pity while trying to adjust to a “new normal”, I am missing maybe the most opportunity I’ve had in years to be salt and light.
While we were all filling our lives to the hilt with work, sports, activities, vacations, even church, society could easily turn a blind eye to the things of God. But we have entered a new era, an era where our activity-packed lives can no longer fill the void, and people are looking. Now more than ever, believers must heed this advice from Colossians 4 to “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4: 5-6).
I’ll admit, I have been failing miserably, but my prayer is that I won’t be side-tracked by “civilian affairs”. I pray that instead of fear, I will display faith in God’s sovereign plan; instead of anger, I will display a peace which “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7); instead of hate, I will display love remembering that my enemy isn’t of “flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12), despite what the political ads say. For, in a time of unrest and uncertainty, it is more important than ever that I embrace 2 Timothy 2 which states, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4). For while the COVID era may seem a burden, it is definitely an opportunity. It is a distinct possibility that much of my spiritual preparation is “for such a time as this”. Lord, help me remember.
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The first week my boys and I were home as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine, we watched the movie The End of the Sword. A life-long Elisabeth Elliot fan, I am not sure how I never read this book or saw this movie, but along with a deep emotional reaction to such a stark picture of forgiveness and redemption, I was reminded of how the story of Elisabeth Elliot captivated my friends and I as young college girls. We may have even “snuck” into a locked football stadium at the University of Oklahoma to journal and pray, just to be like her. In the reading I did after graduating from college, I somehow came across a devotional written by my still favorite author called Keep a Quiet Heart. As a single girl just beginning my teaching career, I was struck by the practical ways she demonstrated how to focus on God’s peace in various life-circumstances. There was one short devotion, however, that made a lasting impact. The title of this chapter was “Do Not Forecast Grief”. In it she recalls a chance meeting with a young mother who confided in Elisabeth all of her anxieties from finances to the health of her family members. In one portion of this devotional, she warns, “Today is mine. Tomorrow is none of my business. If I peer anxiously into the future, I will strain my spiritual eyes so that I will not see clearly what is required of me now”.
Many times in my life this phrase, “Do not forecast grief” has come to my mind: marital difficulties, pregnancy, motherhood, a new job, the threat of school shootings. There are so many times when we can expect the worst. I remember when, during my first pregnancy, a friend gave me several books on pregnancy. As a person especially susceptible to anxiety and depression, I finally had to quit reading them, not because some of the information wasn’t good, but because the chapters on all of the possible complications threw me into a panicked state, worrying about all that could possibly go wrong. Add the possibility of SIDS, autism, and leaving my child while I went to work, and there have been plenty of times I have recalled this phrase, coming back to the promise that God is in control and any pain is known by and allowed by him alone.
In this time of COVID-19, I am of course recalling these words again, as we “re-enter” a society riddled with fear and anxiety. The news and social media are rampant with people acting as if “all” people who contract this new disease will die. Some of us are so anxious, we cannot imagine that we might have to go back to work or school, even attending church is beyond our understanding at this point. I will not even attempt to address the statistics out there on COVID-19. While the studies of countries who are on the other side of the outbreak state it is no worse than the flu, projections in the U.S. vacillate wildly depending on who is reporting. In the end, the statistics do not negate God’s plan.
As Psalm 121 states:
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.Are we promised a carefree life, free from disease and calamity? No. Clearly, Elisabeth Elliot suffered greatly when her husband was killed very early in their marriage, but just as God’s promises were true for her even in her time of grief, his promises are also true during this current pandemic we are navigating. He is not at a loss. As we are being “sent out” into a vaccineless world full of uncertainty, it is good to remind ourselves of Christ’s “sending out” of the disciples in Matthew 10. In this passage, he warns them that they will face certain persecution, even flogging. But despite these dangers, he warns them, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28) for “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father . . . Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10: 29, 31).
Just as Christ asked the disciples to enter a world of danger, he is asking us to do his work without fear. For many of us, this work will include interacting with a world potentially infected with this unknown virus. Is grief a possibility during these uncertain times? Absolutely, but, just like before, God has plans for us, plans that require us to live as he asks us to, plans that cannot be carried out if we allow ourselves to “forecast grief”. As Elliot suggests, “If my life is once surrendered, all is well. Let me not grab it back as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine.” During these uncertain times, it is tempting to want to “grab” our lives back, retreating into ourselves for protection from the unknown. God help us resist this temptation to “forecast grief” lest we miss the blessings he has not only for us, but for those he brings into our path.
Carried Along 