I want to take some time and shed some light on this very inclusive world episode.

Many people are feeling wildly different right now.

Some feel physical pain of a virus attacking their body and taking their literal breath away.

Some are stricken with heartache while their family and friends suffer involuntarily from the incurable.

Others, left with media and question only have their will and homes to hold onto for hope.

Me… I have been at home while both of my jobs are unemployable; for how long? I don’t know.

As a believer, a part of me views this quite intrusive time as eye-opening and freeing.

I don’t mean this to agitate anyone, or stir any pots. But hope has definitely been in my system over the last few days.

You see, I’ve never experienced a time like this in history.

A time where I’m faced with an open schedule to fill. There’s no job to wake-up to, no lunch that I forgot to prepare or breakfast I skimp out on. There’s no busyness that keeps me distracted from meeting the need of the person next door because I have my own meeting to attend.

These last few days have put life in perspective for me. It causes me to ask myself the question, “Is what I spend my time doing, beneficial or artificial for who God is calling me to be?”

In the book of Haggai we see that God’s people have chosen to follow their own heart’s patterns instead of tuning their ears to what is the most important thing. Because of their decisions, we find God speaking to His people, to lovingly and openly turn their hearts towards what His good plan is.

“Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough… You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 1:5-6

Wow.

This week, I have seen this so clearly. From spending more than necessary on groceries, to my income being lowered. It will never be my job or income that allows me to find a constant comfort. As much as I work, money will always diminish. As much as I try to buy, food will always leave the pantry.

“‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.’” 1:9

In this time of isolation, it’s been easier for me to see what stays and what doesn’t. What is important and what I only thought was important. Our relationship with the Lord will always be the highest of priority.

I don’t want to take this time and look back years down the road and think about how I wasted this time or only remember the world panic and the impossibility of finding toilet paper. I want to take the time of separation (being able to get alone with God), the time of chaos (digging into the Word to see how He dealt with confusion), the time of worry (letting go of what I think holds me to hear His voice of peace calm me) and make it a time worth living through, and growing through, and hoping through.

Because soon, life will all be back to a normal flow and we will all have our own story to tell.

“‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth… I will shake all nations, and what is desired will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.” 2:6-7