Finding the Good in the Midst of Uncertainty
It’s no secret that the past couple of months have strayed from what a normal spring semester looks like. The weeks leading up to Spring Break, I heard the word “coronavirus” tossed around, but never really gave it much thought. In my head, it was a virus that was far away from doing any harm to my life. I went on a ski trip with some friends for Spring Break, and from the time we arrived to the time we left, coronavirus had made a world of difference in what the next couple of months were going to look like.
As the next eight weeks unfolded, I started to sing a song of praise to the Lord for what all He had done in my life and the lives of my friends. My little family of three had grown closer than ever before, and we had the very best time every night just being with each other. Like many people, my family and I started going on walks together, and because of that I was able to meet some of my sweet neighbors who live so close. A few of my neighbors even started having a “neighbor night” every Friday or Saturday night. A group of six to seven neighbors would all gather in one driveway, and each household would sit 6-10 feet apart. Being the youngest one in attendance, I was able to sit and listen to the wisdom that my neighbors had to share. These nights sitting six feet away from my neighbors soon became something I looked forward to each and every week. It is little moments like this that might not have happened without life slowing down during COVID-19.
I started to wonder what the Lord had been up to in the lives of my friends, so I asked my closest friends, “What is the good that has come out of the coronavirus?” Among many of the wonderful things I heard about, here are a few of my favorite:
I’ve had the chance to honestly just rest in what I can control, and leave what I can’t to the One I know is in control— something I struggle to do when I feel like I can’t “go and do.” I really feel like He’s using this season to show us where our priorities lie in the ordinary moments and shift our focus to what He can make of every day, even if we feel like we can’t “do” anything or see anyone!
For me, I’ve been learning to honor my parents better. They do so much for me and do so much to keep this life as simple as possible for us, and I’ve been really making sure that I’ve been giving back to them and appreciating them more!
My heart over the past week has been with Psalm 143:8— “Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you to reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.” All we can do is trust that God has us in His hand, so I’ve been focusing on the little things each day. Writing letters to friends, picking flowers, walking in nature, soaking up the sun, watching so many movies and shows, and talking to my friends in a whole new way. This strange time is important to me. I feel as if it’s a time for growth— spiritually, mentally, and physically. I feel that in this situation, I’ve learned that I need to slow down and just be me on a regular basis, having no care in the world what I look like, how I dress, and not worry about what other people think of me.
I can’t tell you how many responses I heard about loving this extra time with family members, extra time to catch up on some much-needed rest, or extra time to spend with Jesus. Among all the negativity that has surrounded the past couple of months, there is a lot of good that has taken place. I know that the abrupt end to the Spring Semester of 2020 was in no one’s plan, but there is so much comfort knowing that the God of all creation is holding each and every moment in His hands. The Lord has repeatedly taken me to Psalm 147, a Psalm that sings of His power and faithfulness. I have found so much peace in resting in the knowledge that He has been faithful, and He will continue to be faithful no matter what.