I think it’s safe to say that COVID-19 has drastically affected our “normal.” Most of us are probably working from home (or not working at all), and due to social distancing measures, the only other people we’ve been in contact with, at least physically, are our family members.
Technology is great, and I am so thankful that I can still communicate with my friends and coworkers through Zoom, texting, Facebook, etc. Can you imagine what it would be like if we were still relying on the Pony Express?
Our Need for Human Connection
Humans are hard-wired for connection and belonging, so it’s not that surprising that we would find creative ways to stay in touch with people. At our most foundational level, we need to be connected with other people. God created us to be that way. Looking back at the beginning of our world, God started mankind with a single person, Adam. Even though Adam had everything he could want, God created another person so he wouldn’t be lonely. From the beginning of time, God designed us to need other people. Just because we’re in a pandemic, doesn’t mean that need goes away.
We long for human connection, so if you’re feeling exhausted or disconnected from others, know that’s totally normal. There’s nothing wrong with you! Even with the technology we have, we’re still separated physically from the people we care about. That takes a toll on our emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Our God-Given Purpose
But maybe you’ve also lost a sense of purpose. Again, this is feeling is normal. God created us to need other people, but He also created us with a purpose. Those two longings go hand in hand because our God-given purpose is to share His love with others.
Many of us pursue this purpose through interaction with people, which is exactly what God intended. Long before Jesus, long before the birth of the church, God’s people were told to spread His love and joy with the rest of the world. Every miracle God bestowed on Israel was to show them His love and compassion for them, but also so that all the world would see His glory, so that the world would know God’s love and saving power.
We’re supposed to be messengers of God’s love and goodness. Not only does God command it throughout the Old Testament, but it was the last instruction Jesus left for His disciples. What a joyous responsibility we have! We get the privilege of sharing God’s love with those around us!
I’m reminded of a legend from Ancient Greece. During a Persian invasion, the Greek city of Marathon was under attack. The Athenians rushed to fight the Persians, but they were outnumbered and their weapons paled in comparison to Persia. They fought bravely anyway, their strategic fighting eventually causing the Persians to flee, but they feared the Persians would attack their home city of Athens. They sent a messenger named Pheidippides to run ahead of them to Athens and tell them of their victory over Persia, hoping the news of their victory would encourage the Athenians to hold the line until the army could make the march back. Pheidippides ran the 25-mile distance from Marathon to Athens to deliver the good news. When he reached Athens, Pheidippides cried out, “Nikomen, we win!” The legend says that Pheidippides had used so much excursion to reach Athens with the glorious news, that he collapsed dead right after shouting their victory over Persia.
This is the type of excitement we should have in our journey to tell others about God. Our desire to tell others the good news of Jesus should overcome all our exhaustion, our hesitancies, our fears and worries. If we are truly joyously overcome by God’s victory, we should be racing with everything we have to share that victory with others, to tell them to hold on, God has won.
So, how do we do that in our lock-down society?
Reach Out. Ask God to reveal to you someone who might need encouragement. Who do you know that might feel lonely today? What can you do to let them know they are loved and valued? Don’t worry about what to say or trying to fit Jesus into the conversation - just let them know you care about them. Trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
Offer To Help. Be willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Is there someone you know who is sick or is scared to venture out right now? Offer to pick up their groceries or run errands for them. Do you know someone who has lost their job or had their hours reduced? Give them a gift card (bonus points, because this can also our local businesses!) Even if simple acts of kindness don’t seem like much, God won’t let anything done in His name be without a purpose.
Promote Peace. There’s a lot of contradictory information out there that encourages disunity. Be aware of what you’re sharing and how you’re presenting yourself on social media. We don’t have to agree with everyone about everything, but as Christians, we are told to promote peace and unity as much as we possibly can. People should be able to look at the followers of Christ as the model of godly peace, people unworried about the outcome because we know God is in control. May we be a place of stability and refuge during this uncertain time.
Pray. At Journey we believe in the power of prayer. Ultimately, the decisions of others are not up to us, but God does delight in answering our prayers and giving us good gifts. All we can do is take care of our own hearts and behaviors, and pray that the Holy Spirit will help others do the same. God promises that our prayers are always heard.
Keep the faith everyone! Don’t lose sight of your purpose, even if it feels different during our new normal. Our purpose is still the same: Tell others the good news and show them the love of God.
We miss you, and we eagerly await when we can connect with you all in person again!