This COVID virus pandemic is unbelievable. I’ve been on this planet for awhile and I’ve never experienced anything like this before.  It’s creating all kinds of unique struggles for us that don’t appear to have good answers.  It’s attacking all different parts of our lives, changing things for the worse, bringing mountains of hurt with it.  There are so many issues, so many concerns.

When is it going away?

Paul talks to us about how to respond when we have multiple trials in our lives –

“We are pressed on every side by troubles but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down but we are not destroyed.” (2 Cor. 4: 8 & 9)

I need to know – how can I not be crushed and destroyed by the trials and tragedies in my life?

God is telling me – and you – today that I can persevere because the Spirit of God lives in me, giving me strength, peace and hope.  The Spirit reminds me that this earth is not my home – my forever home is with my loving Father.

This is how the Spirit translates Paul’s words in my head as I read them –
I  may have troubles coming at me from all directions but, when I stay close to God, he will not let me be crushed by them.  I don’t always understand why struggles and issues come my way but I know God is in control and he is a Good Father and I can stand firm on these truths.  Even when Satan hunts me down, God never leaves my side.  I’ve been knocked down by the horrible tragedy of my son being murdered but God has given me the strength to get back up.  He will always be by my side.

I say this knowing there are more storms are coming my way. There are more storms coming your way.  COVID is not the last issue I will struggle with.  It is not the last problem you will have to deal with.  It’s not a question of ‘if’ there are more trials coming, the question is ‘when’.

Thank you, Father, for teaching me how to respond.