Soon after the Coronavirus claimed the title Pandemic, our staff at RZIM, with the exception of a few essential employees, were sent home to work. My “stay-at-home” began March 17. I wondered how long this home-working stint would last. My guess? Three weeks. Maybe a month.
Though the Coronavirus was a scary unknown, staying at home was a welcomed change of pace. With the extra time I’d spend at home, I created an ambitious list of goals, including goals for Bible study, blogging, organizing the house, exercising, healthy eating, and sticking to my regular schedule. Yeah…I’m a little bit of a planner! The potential to make greater progress in those areas energized me.
As Coronavirus cases trended upward in my home state of Georgia, the Governor issued a shelter-in-place mandate. The Coronavirus kept going…and going…and going. I kept staying home…and staying…and staying. I was focused, enjoyed a steady work pace, moved forward with my goals, and felt pretty content. The world kept unravelling, and the world grew weary. April ended.
Businesses in my community slowly opened up. My workplace opened its doors to a limited number of staff in adherence to pandemic-prompted safety guidelines. The Coronavirus kept going…and going…and going. I kept home-working and staying home as much as possible. My husband and I spontaneously decided to get a puppy, which meant I added puppy goals to my list!
The minute Steve and I saw this little pup, we were toast! We named her Macie, which means “gift of the Lord.” This cute, quirky puppy has been a nice distraction during this Coronavirus crisis.
The world kept unravelling…tensions heightened in the world…and the world cried out in pain physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt heartbroken over it all. I kept seeking after Jesus and realized I needed more and more of Him in these tough times. The end of May came.
An email with a June send date landed in my inbox, announcing that all staff would return to the office on July 13. I mentally prepared for a normal workday. Remember, I’m a planner! Anyone else have a planner personality?
The Coronavirus kept going…and going…and going. This caused the cancellation of the all-staff return to the office. I stopped preparing myself for July 13 and relaxed into home-working a while longer. My spontaneous-lazy side kicked in and overrode my productive, planner side. About a week later, I realized I felt BLAH. Unfocused. Unmotivated. Unmovable. Blah. Blah. Blah.
I think all of us have felt some blah-ness at some point during this never-ending pandemic in our ever-changing world. SO MUCH has been happening in our world. Hardships are falling into all of our little worlds. It’s just TOO MUCH for our human hearts to bear. Catching a case of the blahs may be easier than catching the Coronavirus.
My case of the blahs caused me to realize that I needed a fresh start. My mind and heart needed renewing. Do you need a fresh start, too?
We all need something greater to aim for than…
…a list of goals,
…a dream that the world will return to everything it was pre-pandemic,
…or a desire to hold on to all we treasure and find familiar.
We need to aim for Him. Our God is a God of new beginnings. We can have a fresh start in any moment we acknowledge we need a change and prayerfully turn our hearts to Him! We just need more Jesus!
Below, you’ll find sweet-to-the-soul scripture and a #AimforHim Prayer for finding a fresh start in Jesus.
Scriptures to Ponder
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” –Hebrews 13:8
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” –Revelation 21:5
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” –Psalm 118:24
“’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” –Matthew 22:36-39
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” –Romans 12:2
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” –Proverbs 4:23
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” –Isaiah 40:28-31
Heavenly Father, I praise You, for You are the God of fresh starts.
I come to You, feeling blah. I’m weary from living in a world of uncertainty, instability, and pain. My humanness overwhelms me. I feel numb. Stalled. Stuck in mediocrity. Please lift me up.
The world is ever-changing, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”1 Your glory never fades. Your passion never wanes. You never grow weary of doing good. Your love endures forever.
You are the Perfect Planner. Your Plan is in motion. Your Plan will be accomplished. Whatever happens in the days and months ahead, You are with me, and that truth comforts me.
I commit myself to You. I desire to make the most of every day You grant me—to be an active participant in Your Plan.
Father, breathe new life in me. (Take three or more deep breaths, eyes closed, and visualize God breathing new life in you.)
Father, make THIS day a NEW day.
- Transform my thinking.
- Sharpen my vision.
- Impassion my heart.
- Be my highest aim.
As this pandemic keeps going and reshaping the world…
- Reshape me to be more like You.
- Deepen, widen, and heighten my love for You.
- Reveal the goals You want me to pursue.
- Light my path, and guide my steps.
Embolden me to seize the opportunities You place before me to love my neighbor. When I wear a mask and social distance around others, let them feel respected and loved. Help me to be kind and gracious to those whose hearts hurt and those suffering loss.
Empower me to glorify You every step of the way.
Thank You that “this is the day that {You have} made; {I will} rejoice and be glad in it”2 because I find delight in You. In the Name of Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.
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Notes: 1Hebrews 13:8 /// 2Psalm 118:24 /// Verses are ESV unless noted.
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- Other blogs to help you relate more deeply with God during this “pandemic” season:
- Finding Peace of Mind and Heart During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Finding Peace, Purpose, and a Plan in Trials
- There is Fellowship In Your Suffering
- Pandemic Ponderings: A Journal of Faith, Fears, and Fellowship
