A Closer Walk
We do not know what will happen tomorrow. Or next week or next year. But we make plans anyway. Things seem to work out better when they have been planned. Our Lord speaks to this. "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that,'" James 4:13-15 NASB.
As this year began our country was doing incredibly well. Unemployment was the lowest it had been in a long time; maybe ever. The stock market was reaching all time highs on a regular basis. There were more Americans working than ever before in the history of our country. Then, corona virus struck. This took our nation by surprise; as it did every other nation. We learned about social distancing and quarantine. We, you and I, could not have planned for this. But we are moving through it. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven," Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV. This has not been a time for life as usual. But there is a purpose for this time. How do we know that? Because to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Every happening, every event has a purpose and a season. In other words our Lord will accomplish His desire through this pandemic. Further, since we are in this for a season, it too will pass. Even now states are reopening their businesses. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28 NASB. Good will come of this. How do we know? Because our God, the Lord God Almighty, will cause it to happen. Our God will cause things to work out for good, and especially for those who are called according to His purpose.
It is my personal belief that there is nothing wasted in the Kingdom of God. Whatever we go through, whatever happens to us, even if we stumble or fall or do something stupid, our Father in Heaven will not allow that to be wasted. He will cause every thing to work together for good. He can turn every mess into a message. We will come through this season stronger and wiser.
If we have planned and have provision for a rainy day, then our planning has served us well. While we may not have envisioned a worldwide pandemic, isn't that a type of rainy day? In this particular case we all have had our monthly spending curtailed automatically because we were all isolating. No school, no church, no games or track meets. No haircuts, no eating at a restaurant, though we could do drive through or takeout. Most of us are ready to resume doing the things we previously did and enjoyed. Ready to go places and see people. Ready to go back to attending church. We may have learned that we need other people. Even if they are people we don't know. There is something uplifting about being with other people, being around other people.
Even though we don't know what will happen tomorrow, we can keep moving forward. Serving when and where we can. Helping our fellow man. Rejoicing in the Lord, who always watches over us and provides for us. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” Psalm 23:4 and 6 KJV.