Play The Movie Forward-by HeidiMcLaughlin
Posted: March 22, 2020
Nature abhors a vacuum. The last two weeks have sucked the air out of many of us. Suddenly our calendars are empty, sports events gone, meeting with friends in a restaurant no more and all church activities stopped. Our entire rhythm is off kilter and it’s startling. So let’s be careful how we fill that unexpected and shocking vacuum, because an empty soul is a danger just waiting to happen
An empty soul is danger just waiting to happen.
Let’s play the movie forward by eight months. Were we a fearful hoarder or a helper and a beacon of hope? Did we see this time of isolation as a gift or were we angry that it disrupted our perfect plans? What did we model to people around us, our children, grandchildren and friends? Were we like chicken little screaming that the sky is falling or did we point people to our hope of Heaven?
For sure, these times of crisis are an intersection of faith and they reveal what we’re made of. It made me ill to see all the toilet paper hoarding, but gave me hope when I hear of Therapists give free counselling sessions. My daughter’s family was shocked to hear that their school was closed until September. But they took the high road. They repainted a room in their house and have made it into a bright and cheerful home-schooling room. They are using this time to be wise and creative and model resilience and faith to their children.
Last week when I went on a big hike I asked God: “God what do you want to show me in this Covid-19 crisis?” Almost immediately I heard in my spirit: “I am the God who was, who is and who is to come.”
“I am the God who was, who is and who is to come.”
God took me to the 10,000 foot level and reminded me that he’s been with us through more difficult times than the one we’re in. In 1918 the Spanish flu killed 25 million people and in 1347 the Black Death plague killed 60% of the entire world population. God is with us right now and he’ll be with us when this crisis is over. But what will we learn from this? Will we shake our fist at heaven and say: “Why me?” Or will we remember that Jesus said: “In this world there will be trouble” (John 16:33) and believe him when he declares over and over that he will never us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)?
So let’s fill this undeniable vacuum with goodness. Believing each day that we can be creative and trust God for all our provisions. So that when we look back on this unusual time in history we’ll be proud of the way we trusted God, and set a beautiful example of a life well lived.
2 responses to “Play The Movie Forward-by HeidiMcLaughlin”
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Beautifully written Heidi. I’ve been consumed by the same thoughts. What will be revealed in this history we are making? How will the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory, HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us. I don’t want to miss Him because I spent this time at a pity party.
Thank you for your comment. I’m concerned what we are modelling to our children and grandchildren. As Christians I don’t think we feel we’re self entitled people, but how will we remember how we’ve responded through this crisis? I know God wants to teach us something because I believe our world will never be the same again. But what are we to learn? My heart and soul are wide open. Lord teach us how to live.