These are trying times we are currently living in. A person's faith can help carry them through uncertainty. Reality is - we are ALL persons of faith. We all believe in something and even in this global incident, there are polarizing beliefs.
Some believe it is a hoax and a cover up of deeper, darker secrets of the Deep State while others believe that following the recommendations of the CDC and practicing social distancing will help to flatten the curve and ultimately save lives.
This blog is about neither of those beliefs or anything in between.
As this season has brought all of us more time and space to reflect, my reflections have been more about what this global incident has revealed to me about what I put my trust in. Specifically financially.
Christians are GREAT at using Christian lingo, but are we equally great at living it? "I trust God!" "God is my Source!" All true, but what if circumstances lead to the point where all you are left with is God - is God enough?
My pastor and I were recently talking about how God uses resources to minister His will and His ways to us. God uses people, God uses doctors, God uses money, God can and does use ANYthing to minister to people. The problem with people is we sometimes become enamored with the resource instead of the Source - and THAT my friends is what you call idolatry.
You see, my job is a resource. God uses it to minister provision to my household. My husband is a resource. God uses him to minister His husbandry to me, His love to me, and uses him to minister provision to our household. My husband's job is a resource. You get the picture...
The above resources are all good and God is using them but ultimately God is the Source of all things good (James 1:17). Is my complete trust in God to continue ministering His love and provision to me or has my trust shifted to the resources that He uses? I believe it is actually hard to know until a resource fails you or is removed. That kind of shaking can reveal what is truly in a person's heart.
If a job or a person or a system such as healthcare or ANY of the many resources God uses, if they fail us - do we resort to worry, fear, anxiety, etc.? If the resource fails us does that mean God has failed us?
NO! If God has used employment to minister His provision to you, if employment is removed, he can use other resources to minister His provision to you. God is NOT limited. Only by the smallness of our thinking and our lack of faith and trust in HIM.
When Jesus lived on the earth and called twelve men to follow Him and live in community with Him, they also faced MANY challenging seasons. One time, Jesus speaking metaphorically (we know that now, hindsight is 20/20) Jesus said in order to follow Him you must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Many among the multitudes wrote Jesus off as a lunatic and Jesus asked His twelve close disciples, "Will you leave too?" (John 6:41-71). Peter's response reflects the kind of faith I want to have... "Where else would we go?"
Peter had entered into the position where he had removed all other options to trust in and follow after. We as Americans have SO many options to choose from - to put our trust in. We can place our trust in a political candidate to lead our nation to OUR aligned beliefs or a specific party to do the same, we can trust in a sophisticated medical system, we can trust in a multitude of ways to turn our hard earned money into investments - we are a nation RICH in resources. But do we trust in the Source of all things good? And if any of the resources were to fail us - do we still trust in the Source to be true to who He says He is and what He says He'll do?
"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?...Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:26, 31-33