When Will It End?????

How much longer?  Will things ever turn the corner?  These are questions we have all been asking ourselves during the past year and a half.  This pandemic has brought both heartache and hardship into our lives.  Thousands of our fellow Americans have died.  Our nation’s children have greatly suffered by having to “attend school” sitting in front of a screen and have been robbed of interaction with their peers and being a part of school activities.   Businesses have been shut down.  Livelihoods have been lost and shattered.  Churches have been unable to hold in-person services (although “livestream” has at least offered some solace).

But Americans are innovative, so we have found ways to stay connected and to reach out.  The best example being:  “So, I’ll see you on Thursday, in your square!”

Perseverance is defined as:  Having the endurance and patience to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition.  Over the past 18 months, perseverance has been “the name of the game”, for sure!

But here’s the thing.  None of this is of any surprise to God.  He is sovereign and rules and reigns as He desires:

(Isaiah 45:7- “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”)

So, what is our response then, as Christians, to this COVID situation?  The Word of God sheds both light and direction onto this dilemma.

Psalm 16:8 – “I keep my eyes always on the Lord.  With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.”

As Psalm 119:105 states – “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light on to my path.”

God’s Word supplies instruction, encouragement and hope on to any situation we might face.  And, one of my very favorites:

Hebrews 12:1&2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I picture the saints of old in a stadium, waiting for the main event.  We believers enter the stadium, getting in line for our race, in our respective lanes, armed with Jesus’ marching orders.  We each have our assignment to carry out.  The race begins!  We’re off – running with all our might, enduring the sweat and the pain.  We keep on keeping on.  And there, at the end of our “lane” is Jesus.  He greets us with arms open wide and beams with pride as He says – “Well done!”

It won’t always be easy.  In fact, it will rarely be easy.  But as we keep our eyes on Him and trust in Him and in His Word, the impossible becomes possible.

I’ll close with the chorus of Lauren Daigle’s wonderful song, “I Will Trust in You”:

“When You don’t move the mountains, I’m needing You to move-

When You don’t part the waters, I wish I could walk through-

When You don’t give the answers, as I cry out to You –

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You.”

Blessings ~

Christine