With the former youth pastor in me, I can't seem to turn the brain and heart off this evening. I pray this can be an encouragement to you or someone you may know:
As I was standing in the chaos that was the Kroger checkout this afternoon, I was struck by the level of frustration and stress folks were carrying. It wasn't the virus itself or the long lines or half empty shelves upsetting people. Actually most were surprisingly courteous and patient. But once I started talking with people standing all around me in the piled up line, so many concerns bubbled out quickly. It was losing hours at work, getting laid off, caring for children while working, elderly family members, the stock market, the list went on. Some of those may be on your mind as I know some are for me.
Driving home and thinking about those conversations, I was overwhelmed and heartbroken by the thought of how many people in our city are probably feeling stuck and captive to the circumstances of this life. When you expand that thought to the world, that's a tough thing to comprehend.
It may appear that Satan has the upper hand right now with the level of fear, anxiety and chaos in this world. And that's what the enemy wants. For us to be discouraged, dejected and afraid. Not trusting in God's plan.
As I've spent some time in prayer and scripture this evening, God continued to impress on me the thought that now as much as ever, He is in control. In John 15:27 when Jesus first tells the disciples of His death and the power of the coming Holy Spirit, He tells them "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." Which is an amazing thing in itself. Jesus says "my peace" he leaves with us. Not the world's peace, but His peace. Something greater than a temporary peace based on the circumstances we find ourselves in. Something much deeper.
Then he says, "Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Think about this truth: something as shocking as the death of the Messiah was the will of God in order to meet His greater purpose of ultimately defeating death. His purposes are so much greater than what we can imagine.
That's a message the world needs to know. That's a message the folks standing around me at Kroger needed to hear. God quickly reminded me that that's my job. He's called His followers to proclaim that to the world in time of pandemic or not. And this is a time when neighbors, friends, family or people in line next to you are more likely to feel isolated, alone, discouraged and searching for deeper truths. It's also a time when God provides greater opportunities for us to share the truth of who God is, His plan for this world, His plan for them and ultimately the freedom in salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
If you personally feel captive or even partially captive to the fears of the world right now, take heart. God's got this. And I pray for the Lord's peace in your life.
If you are feeling the Lord's peace in this time, there are many who are not. Others who have never experienced it. I pray we would all take advantage of the open doors in conversations that God will give us to share of that peace. And I pray they would receive it.
God's blessings!
Sean Gibson,
Social Studies Teacher
Social Studies Teacher