How Can I Respond to All These Changes? Don’t Be Afraid Part 5

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15 NLT) This series is focused on COVID-19 and our response. Things change quickly, sometimes several times in a day. The situation is somewhat different here in the USA than in many of the countries where you’re reading this. Here in the USA we have levels of government: Local, County, State, and National. There is some overlap between levels, and in different situations, one level takes priority over others. But our current situation is very confusing as we have different levels of mandated “social distancing”, different levels of mandated closures of businesses and schools, different levels of mandated and suggested bans on gatherings, meetings, and events. It’s frustrating and confusing to try to sort through all the often-conflicting and rapidly-changing news reports! There’s a lot we don’t know, but here’s some things we do know:
• This season of change and uncertainty we’re in is just getting started and it’s picking up speed. Change is hard, but rapid change is harder!
• We’re quickly moving from “a couple of weeks of minor inconvenience” to “This is going to last for quite a while and it’s going to move quickly from mild inconvenience to real hardship.”
• We’re not going to like many of the changes thrust upon us, but we’re going to have to accept them and learn to live differently. Things will eventually get back to normal, but it will be a “new normal”. We don’t know what that’s going to be like.
• Our leaders will make decisions that we don’t approve, or that seem unfair, or that don’t work out well and have to be changed. Let’s roll with it, friends. Pray for them.
• Science is not the enemy of faith. Common sense is not the enemy of faith!
• Let’s live as people of faith, patience, forgiveness, and love. Let’s Be Helpers! Prayer: Father, Please stay close to us and keep us close to you. Help us to slow down and do our thinking with the higher part of our brains so we can think of others as well as ourselves and be moved by faith and not by fear. We need you! In Jesus’ Name.