Frustrated. Does that word describe how you feel right now? Many people are growing increasingly frustrated about how Covid-19 has disrupted our lives, friendships and finances. Many are starting to ask questions. Has caution been taken too far? What about the economy? Are our freedom’s being taken away?
These are important questions to ask, but there is another question that is even more important. What is God up to in all of this? There is a danger that our frustration will prevent us from seeing God at work. I want to share three things that we can be sure that God is doing through this crisis.
1. God is working for our good. It doesn’t seem like it, but He is. Romans 8:28 promises, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”[1]
Our problem is that we don’t usually think of good in the same way that God does. Author, Paul David Tripp explains that God is “not first working on your happiness; He’s committed to your holiness.”[2] God is more concerned about your spiritual growth than your comfort and happiness. He wants you to grow closer to Him and become more like Him. What does God want to teach you through this time of struggle?
2. God is bringing people to Himself. I Timothy 2:2 tells us that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Again, God is more concerned with souls being saved than our lives being easy. Difficult times remind people that they will not live forever. They make people think about spiritual things. Pray for opportunities to tell of the confidence that Jesus gives you in times of uncertainty. God often uses difficult times to bring people to saving faith in Christ.
3. God is glorifying Himself. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God declares “…for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My councel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…’” Humans want to think that we are in control. Times like this remind us that we are not, but God is.
The coronavirus is likely to bring frustration into our lives for a while longer. Remember that God is in control and He is at work. May God give you an excitement about how He is doing good things in the middle of a bad situation!
[1] All Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [2] Tripp, Paul David; New Morning Mercies (Kindle Location 1069)
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