Surviving Lockdown
13th November 2020
The internet is awash with people writing for or against the government's decision to re-impose lockdown. I have my own opinions about the wisdom and legality of their actions but I don't want to write about that today. I want to talk about how you and I can best survive and thrive during this lockdown.
Firstly: choose contentment. God is in control of all things. Nothing happens that He does not allow for His own often ineffable purposes. God made a sovereign choice to allow Coronavirus to spread, and another sovereign choice to allow our government to respond as it has. We don't need to understand God's reasoning before we choose to trust His judgement. If we trust that God is in control, as He surely is, then we can be content that this is happening. We don't need to rage against the government, or the people ignoring the regulations, or anybody or anything else. We can be at peace. As Paul wrote:
Philippians 4:12b
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.
Would we not be better witnesses to Christ's goodness and mercy if we were to demonstrate contentment to our neighbours? Paul also wrote:
1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
The first step to contentment is choosing to be content. The second step is trusting in God, trusting that His plan for us, for our lives and for our country is perfect because He is perfect, even though we don't understand it. And we will survive lockdown much better if we're content.
Secondly: choose faithfulness. In lockdown, we can drift away from our church, from our friends, from our extended families, and even from God. I'm sure many of us are grateful to God for the existence of telephones and internet technologies that allow us to keep in touch. My own church uses ZOOM to conduct live services every Sunday. It's not the same as being together in one place, but it's better than drifting apart.
Even with these modern advantages, we can slowly lapse into lethargy and apathy. We can develop attitudes that amount to "I'll be faithful again after lockdown". But God calls us to be faithful always, as He is faithful. I hope you're continuing to pray for the people around you, keeping in contact, trying to be encouraging and supportive.
Can I say in particular that your church leaders need your encouragement and support at this time.
We're Christians for all eternity, and we can make a difference for somebody, one way or another, every day. And we're called to live like Christians every day, including during lockdown.
Finally: Choose prayer. Many of us have more opportunity to pray now than we've ever had. Fight off the lethargy! Refuse apathy! Turn off the TV and wait on God. Remember:
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour
the land or send a plague among my people
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek
my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.
God knows our situation. He is full of love and mercy. He will hold us close, keep us safe, and deliver us from this plague, if we will seek Him humbly and faithfully in prayer.