Hope in These Times

I’ve been thinking I should write about our time during the corona virus.

But what should I write about? Things aren’t that much different in our lives.

We did have to stop our braille teaching at the correctional center, and my husband only worked from home for a while. Both our sons who live with us are unemployed during this time. We are having virtual church, and I didn’t leave the house for more than three months.

Other than that, my life is much the same. I already did work from home. Our finances have been fine. My husband and sons take safety measures seriously when they leave home.

I live with three men, so I’m not at all lonely. Truthfully, we’ve all gotten along pretty well being shut up at home together most of the time.

So what to write about?

I finally decided I should talk about the concerns of my heart during this overwhelming, frightening time in our nation, in the world.

Listening to the news makes my heart heavy—about the virus, about the horrid racial problems, about the economy, about so much division in our country.

What are the long-range consequences we face? How are our futures, mine and my children’s, going to change?

When will our sons be able to go back to work? Our daughter just finished graduate school. Will she be able to find a job?

When can we travel in the community again without fear of illness? When will schools be able to operate safely?

When will we stop hearing of so many people getting sick and dying from the corona virus? When will all of us in our nation have more peace among us?

When will I have a true moment of joy without feeling a prick of guilt?

I’ve heard many opinions, read many devotions and articles about these times. I want to share some of the hope and encouragement I’ve received from others.

Psalms 68:19:

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.

Isaiah 41:13:

 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”

Romans 8:35,37:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

What I’ve heard repeated most: None of this was a surprise to God. He knew it was going to happen, and he knew where each of us would be.

Psalm 139:16: 

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

In Genesis chapter 16, Hagar calls God the God who saw her.

Verse 13: She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

God sees us. He is always with us. He helps us. And he has work for us to do.

God wants me to focus on being part of the solution, not the problem. This gives me such hope.

Joshua 1:9:

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Father, thank you for this hope, for this reminder. Help me to see those near me who need help, and give me the strength and courage to do what I can.