COVID-19: A Divine Disruption

Only God could shut the entire world down and command our undivided attention. Only He could alter our plans, shift our focus and realign our priorities....without warning…without explanation.  

Only God could disrupt our lives so deliberately…so drastically…so decisively. And yes, so divinely.

That’s what I believe. But, you may not believe in God and that’s certainly your choice. If not…you should probably stop scrolling.  

This message isn’t for you.

Let’s face it. All of us have experienced “storms” in our lives. And while each could potentially be one of epic proportions, this time, there’s no “Emergency Preparedness Plan.” No evacuations.  No traffic diversions. No rescue missions. No definitive timelines. No getting back to “normal.”

No…this time is different.

I’ve had down-time before, but couldn’t really appreciate it because I was so focused on getting well…getting stronger and ultimately, getting back to the chaos that contributed to my need to recuperate in the first place.  

But,this time is different.

God, in His Infinite Wisdom, has His reasons for disrupting our lives. There are lessons He wants us to learn.  So instead of focusing on the devastation and uncertainty around us, perhaps we should take a minute to exhale…literally. The sun is still shining.  Flowers are still blooming. Trees...still blossoming. A reminder that no matter how “ugly” this gets, He still gives us “beauty for ashes.” 

As Believers, we’re still covered by His Psalm 91 Protection. Instead of taking our lives and loved ones for granted, maybe we should be grateful for every breath and savor every moment, because no day is promised.

But for the Coronavirus, parents wouldn’t have had weeks of quality-time at home with their children. Teachers might still be over-looked and under-appreciated. First responders and front-line employees may not ever have assumed their rightful places as superheroes. Our working poor and most vulnerable would still be invisible. There would undoubtedly be fewer acts of kindness, spontaneous prayer vigils and socially-distanced serenades to touch the hearts of millions.

So maybe… just maybe, this “disruption” is a GIFT…one that teaches us the importance of Gratitude.  Introspection.  Fortitude.  Time.

Life’s challenges have always drawn me closer to God. But, this pandemic has caused me to “lean in” to Him even more and for that, I’m especially grateful. Realizing that we’re not in control, has fueled my faith and strengthened my resolve. 

I’m even learning to pray for a President who dictates his own terms, denies responsibility, demands praise and demeans anyone who questions or disagrees with him. Never looks within. Never open to criticism of any kind. 

A President who relishes power and seems convinced he alone is in control. One who initially vowed to “resurrect” the economy on the same day Christians celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and has the audacity to impose his own timelines for when this pandemic will end…when he’ll bring the economy back and how soon the American people will return to work. 

“If you wanna make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

No wisdom. No vision. No leadership. No compassion for human suffering. No regard for human life. No empathy for the “casualties of war.”  

And he’s right. This is war. Spiritual warfare.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high and lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” 

That Scripture is one of many reasons this self-proclaimed “wartime President” finds himself grossly unprepared and ill-equipped to lead our nation through these unprecedented challenges.

Instead of heeding U.S. Intelligence officials’ warnings last year, he insisted that COVID-19 was a hoax and did nothing to protect or prepare the American people. Using his bully pulpit to confuse the American people, contradict the medical experts and control the narrative for his own political expedience.   

And although he denies any responsibility for severely mishandling the federal government’s response, Believers still bear the responsibility of praying for him, as well as state and local officials, because “Where there’s no vision, the people perish.”

God has to be tired of the hypocrisy. Tired of the hatred. Tired of being disrespected and disregarded. Now, more than ever, we must be physically distanced, but spiritually connected. We must do the introspective work that’s required of us as equal shareholders of a destiny that is inextricably and indivisibly intertwined. 

God is speaking. I pray that all of us are listening because we’re isolated, but certainly not insulated from the suffering of our brothers and sisters. Their fate is ours. The GIFT of this “divine disruption” is an amazing opportunity to look within and learn the lessons so that we can put our personal and political differences aside to wage war together, as “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”