In the quiet days of quarantine, I find myself in a mixture of faith and fear. One night, I laid in bed like many other nights, scrolling through Facebook, unable to sleep. My mind and soul felt weary as I read quick highlights about the growing number of COVID-19 cases around the world and the chaos unfolding. The anguish all over the world made my heart cry.
“I know you didn’t cause this virus, Lord; but I know you allow it. Why?” I asked quietly.
God is Doing a New Thing
As quickly as I asked the question, He answered in my spirit, “Can’t you see what I’m doing? I’m not done yet.” The phrase reminded me of Isaiah 43:19 which states: Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
When I glanced back down at my phone, my spiritual eyes opened as I thumbed through stories of hope: an atheist doctor who decided to follow Jesus after meeting a patient who read the Bible to the dying until his last breath; the miraculous story of the man who claimed he felt the Lord breathe into his lungs as he lay in the hospital, fully recovering the next day as if he never had the virus; Italian communities breaking into song together; nurses praying over each other and their patients; and communities uniting to pray for healthcare workers in a hospital parking lot.
Using this Situation for Good
Suddenly, I understood what the Lord meant when He said: “I’m not done yet.” What Satan meant for evil, God is using for good. He is revealing Himself as the Hope Giver, the Great Physician, the Promise Keeper, and the Light in dark places to a world looking for love and wholeness. People who never would have known the Father’s love before this moment are crying out to Him and meeting Him for the first time. The prodigals are returning home. Manifestations of His glory and healing are reported all over the world if you know where to look.
That night, I slept deeply, remembering that God is still on the throne, and He knows the day the virus will fade away.
Don’t Be Afraid
If you’re feeling afraid, ask God to show you what He is doing over these weeks. He will supply all your needs; and in His Presence, He will fill you with peace.
