As a Florida resident, I have personal experience with preparing for hurricanes. We stock up on canned food, bottled water, essential meds, paper products. We expect to see the anxious looks on people’s faces as they jostle in grocery stores or home supply stores. We hear regular updates on TV about “models” and governmental proclamations.
But I was not prepared for this.
My first visit to our local grocery store soon after the outbreak of the coronavirus in our country was, in a word, bizarre.
A day after the president’s declaration of a national emergency, I went shopping for a couple grocery basics at 8.00 AM on Saturday. When the concerns about this virus began to ramp up earlier this month, we had stocked up on many of our basic needs, so we had prepped. But, on that Saturday morning, I had a short list of important items, and I thought I’d get a head start on the day.
As I walked through the store, I saw empty shelves, empty displays, and long lines. At 8.00 AM on a Saturday! All the items on my short list were missing. No milk. No chicken. No bacon. No bread.
I was stunned. I felt a shot of adrenaline, and real fear. I had never seen anything like this before, not even during the days prior to Hurricane Irma back in 2017.
The store clerks didn’t know when new supplies would come. As soon as the shelves are stocked, they said, people load up their carts (hoarding food, more to the point), and check out.
And for the first time in my life, I felt fear that we might not have all the food we need – not a voluntary worrying, but a natural, knee-jerk reaction type of fear – a fear of wont.
The anxious energy in that store was thick. So many shelves were barren. Many questions hung in my mind like a mobile, spinning around. The normal routine of life had suddenly been taken away. My reliable American food chain did not seem that reliable.
Then something that Jesus said came to mind: “do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat ..."
Wow. That’s real.
Back in my car, on the way home, more of Jesus’ words came: For the nations seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6.25,31-33)
I knew it was time to work this out. And it is hard work trusting God in the midst of these unprecedented crises. But this is a time when his Kingdom can be expressed in unprecedented ways!
And we get to be part of that! What an unexpected journey this is!
Can we see this crisis from Jesus’ perspective?
The kingdom of God is at hand, within us, and we are in a unique time for this kingdom to come, and for his will to be done through us.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Jesus is saying this: we don’t need to worry or be anxious about our needs; rather, seek God’s ways and his work, and in doing that, we will have all we need. So, why allow natural anxiousness to steal an opportunity to look to the Good Shepherd and follow him?
Practically speaking, how do we seek God’s “kingdom” and his “righteousness?”
We seek ways to reach the hurting and fearful – to offer practical helps to neighbors or the elderly, such as doing errands or yard work.
It means praying for those who are ill, and praying for those serving the ill on the health care front lines.
It means being ready to share the good news of Jesus’ gift of new life to many who are losing so much.
And, personally it means tearing down whatever idols are screaming for attention, and seeking God’s presence in my heart and mind.
Remember Jesus’ words: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7.24-25)
Trusting Jesus begins with opening your heart to him – confessing to him your need for him, and thanking him for his gift of new life provided by his life, death, and resurrection.
We can be thankful in times such as these: the Father can gently show us how to shore up the foundation of our hearts during times of uncertainty and fearfulness.
He really does know how to care for you.
How can you make an effort to lean onto God, and his word, at this time of uncertainty?
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