6 Gifts Covid-19 Gave Us - Part I
By Dr. Elizabeth Baker, Guest Contributor
Contact: grannysgumption@gmail.com
Part 1 (to read part 2 of this blog, please click here)
One of the unique qualities of the Christian religion is our view of problems. We believe bad stuff is real, yet we also accept it as hopeful for we trust our God has the power to draw good from bad (Romans 8:28). This same unique viewpoint can be applied to Covid-19. The pandemic is bad. That is reality. Yet, there is another reality working through it all. A reality that shows itself in sparkles of Providence assuring us that our hope is solid. So, for this blog and the next, we will examine a few of these sparkles and, perhaps, even find a reason to smile.
#1. Opportunity for more family time
I’ve listened for years as Christians grieved over hectic schedules and the frantic pace of life. Covid-19 helped thousands of families turn that situation on its head. Like it or not, the kids are underfoot and figuring out how to manage all those boring hours has given us an opportunity to think outside the box we have been in for years. In my own community the business at our local hardware store has been booming as long-delayed repairs and DIY projects were tackled as family ventures.
#2. Opportunity for victory over fear
We felt secure in Christ when there was no reason to be afraid, but Covid-19 changed that. Daily body counts are now part of the evening news as hot spots shift, and the lines are drawn closer to our address or that of those we love. Fear encourages us to reach for heaven’s view and see the situation as an opportunity. Now is the time to test the impact of what Jesus promised when he said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27 TLB). This doesn’t mean we ignore the hard facts around us, but we look beyond earthly truths to a higher reality. That viewpoint provides a feeling of security the Bible describes as “more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:17.
#3. Opportunity for humility
Just as Covid-19 has divided the nation, it has also split many in the Christian community. Some are ready to run for the hills while others suspect the whole thing is a farce. For the second group, Covid-19 offers a different opportunity than learning peace in the midst of storm. It gives a chance to demonstrate the depth of our dedication to God in the face of a skeptical world by humbly yielding to laws we don’t like.
Do you think a mask is stupid? It’s time to remember the biblical injunction that Christians are to obey all governing authorities as long as their laws do not cross the greater laws of heaven. (Romans 13:1-2). Inconvenience doesn’t count.
So, the next time someone gripes about their uncomfortable mask, smile with your eyes and tell them you don’t like yours either, but your religion requires you to wear one. A comment like that is sure to spark an interesting conversation, and your opportunity for humble obedience may turn into a chance to tell about the One who always draws good out of bad (Romans 8:28).
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Republished with permission.