Striding Through Quarantine

At the start of 2020, I declared this would be my year to stride. To take slow, deliberate steps with Christ as my guide to whatever He desired for me at that moment. Unfortunately, like many of us, I wasn’t prepared for what I prayed for. Reluctantly, I’ve come to terms with 3 truths since quarantine began:

1. Keep The Pace

While many of us are spending this time resting, finding new interests or rekindling fires for dreams we’ve put away, I’ve busied myself by scrolling Instagram, eyeing my next networking opportunity. I believed I couldn’t use my gifts until I had more connections on my side, but in reality, if I’d given them back to their creator, He’d make sure they made room for me in due time.

Often, we discover things that we’re great at and take off towards our presumption of success without consulting God, then crawl back to Him dusty and discouraged because it didn’t meet our expectations. By all means, study your craft and work diligently to enhance your skills, but before you make any decisions, allow God to show you where and how to use them.

2. I can’t heed, If I can’t hear.

Almost everyday since quarantine began, I’ve heard someone say “now can God get your attention?” Well…I guess so. A downfall I struggle with is deciphering God’s voice above all others so that I can effectively do what I’m supposed to. In a sermon entitled “Stride”, Pastor Mike Todd described it as someone talking to you as you’re running past them. We hear instructions in bits and pieces, never slowing down enough to fully understand our assignment or give God time to build on His original statements in case there’s more to do.

If you struggle in this area as well, I’ve started having consistent devotional time (which consists of reading the Bible, praying-having a conversation with God- then waiting for Him to reveal or clarify something through it), and being intentional about how much I consume certain TV shows, music, or people to clear my mind so I’ll receive His advice however He chooses to give it.

3. Preparation Precedes Purpose

As someone who tries to find the bright side in everything, I will wholeheartedly admit that staying positive in this situation has been almost impossible. As a Christian, I do believe that faith overrules fear, however I also believe that using faith as a band-aid to cover our guilt for being human worsens the fear. So, before we go any further, please know that God isn’t threatened by your emotions. We cast our cares on Him so that He can process our feelings with us, then carry the load so we’re left with the faith we need to move forward. Talk to Him.

That being said, rest assured that there is a method to all this madness. Losing our jobs made more time for our families. Recognizing the importance of quarantine showed us unity and afforded ways to show kindness that we may not have thought of before. Even in this moment that we feel the most defeated, God is still working it out for the good of our individual purposes.

The best benefit to walking with someone is the intimacy it carries. Depending on your relationship to them, you may hold hands, share a hug, or disclose your deepest desires. Who’s to say God doesn’t want the same in His relationship with us? As we share with Him, He shares with us and each step we take holds a receipt of the trial we conquered with Him on our side. This walk is everlasting. If He did it before, He’ll do it again.

Celebrate Yourself,

Mel