Prayer + Prudence.

Hey friends.

The last few weeks have been strange, and heavy.

Only nine days ago I had just sang in my first college choir performance, not knowing it’d also be my last. I hugged my 80 year old grandparents and stayed at their house, without any thought in my head that it was dangerous. I went out to eat with my best friend, without any concern that she goes to school in Washington State, and without wondering what the sanitation standards of the restaurant were. I was looking forward to that weekend, where I’d hop on a plane and see the sights of Cincinnati. I opened door handles, went to a gym, kissed my baby niece, worshiped at church, and was definitely closer than 6ft to many people in many places.

Nine days later, and so much has changed.

All my classes have been moved online. I’m no longer staying with my grandparents. I didn’t go on my family trip to Cincinnati. My church has closed down. I don’t know the next time I’ll take another spin class. And I won’t lie, I’m hypersensitive about my surroundings wherever I go, and whatever I do.

I know my situation is nothing compared to the people who are in lock down in San Fransisco and the hundreds of people who’ve lost loved ones in Italy and China.

But this pandemic is affecting us all. And it’s ok to be sad about it.

I feel a great heaviness in my soul today. I knew I was going to write about COVID-19, but now that I’m sitting here I’m just overcome with sadness that I have to write about it at all.

I can’t add much to the throngs of voices and threads and posts already out there. But I still want to say that I’m sorry, to whoever is reading this, and for whatever you’ve had to give up because of this virus.

I feel an ache for you.

I feel an ache for those who are sick. I ache for those who’ve lost their jobs. I ache for restaurants that have closed down and don’t know if they’ll ever re-open. I ache for those who’ve passed away in crowded hallways without getting to see their loved ones faces one last time. I ache for our economy, our nation, our world…

I even ache for those who are buying whole pallets of toilet paper, because although everyone’s mad about it and calling them selfish, they’re probably only doing it because their toilet paper supply is the only thing they feel like they can control right now.

I understand.

But that’s where the problem lies.

We thought we were in control.

We thought we were the ones who were responsible for our success, our health, our busy schedules and our routines. But everything we have is the Lord’s.

The Lord gives. And the Lord takes away.

I’m not saying that God caused the Coronavirus to punish us or teach us a lesson. But I do believe he is sovereign over it. And I believe that he can use it.

Last night as I sanitized my desk, phone, office door handle and computer before leaving work, I realized something like a punch in the gut.

I’d put so much effort into disinfecting my work area, but I’d spent 0 time praying that day.

According to the World Health Organization I had taken all the right precautions. But according to God’s word, I’d failed.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. “

Friends. Clorox wipes aren’t going to save us. Washing our hands 20 times a day won’t guarantee our health. Buying that extra package of toilet paper won’t bring us comfort. And social distancing isn’t going to put an end to the coronavirus.

Only God will.

He is our hope. He is our anchor in the storm. He is our refuge and strength. He is in control, whether the curve flattens or sky-rockets, whether the economy plummets or survives, even whether we live or die.

He is Jehovah Rapha, and he will bring healing to those who are sick, even if we never find a cure for COVID-19.

He and only he can bring an end to this global pandemic.

So I urge you, pray.

Pray for our leaders instead of criticize their decisions. Pray for the person who took that last roll of toilet paper instead of curse at them. Pray for those who are anxious and scared instead of belittling or making fun of them.

Pray for those who are sick, that they would be healed.

When Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, he and his people faced the threat of an armed attack from their enemies.
His response?

“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”-Nehemiah 4:9

Prayer and prudence.

Those are our greatest tools during this pandemic.

We must look to God, first and foremost. We must cry out to him for direction and protection. And at the same time, we must use what means we have to fight COVID-19. We must listen to our health professionals and respect our governing authorities. We must do what we can, even if all we can do is quarantine ourselves.

I’m sorry for whatever you’ve had to give up during this time. I feel for you, because if you’re anything like me, adjusting your plans and your schedule and your routine isn’t easy.

But it’s a small price to pay compared to what others are sacrificing.

So keep washing your hands. Facetime your grandma, because she’s going to get lonely. Write a letter to your friend who lives far away. Drink lots of water. Take some vitamin C. Keep smiling. Stay brave. Have faith.

And pray.

Keep praying.