DEVOTION

As has been the case for most people, the sudden changes this season has brought to my family have caused anxiety, worry, and fear about what is to come. Reports of new COVID-19 cases seem to be coming faster than we can keep up with.

I like to think of myself as a level-headed person who does not typically become overly emotional. However, knowing that my children were going to leave me in a few days to go for their shared time with their father caused me a great deal of panic. If you are a parent, you are familiar with the worst-case scenarios that play through your head, unrealistic as they may be. One thing I have learned is when entering any new or unknown season of life, God will always give his truth and his promises for the time to come. My prayer any time I'm facing an unknown is for God to make his truth louder than the chaos around me. He is always so faithful to gently turn my focus from the storm back to him.

In my early morning prayer time, while anxiously running through my worry list with God, Ecclesiastes 3:1 came to mind and caused me to pause and take a breath. There is a time and purpose for every single thing that happens on this earth. God knew all things that were to come from the beginning to end of time and has given purpose to every moment. He knew about this virus long before it entered the first human body. He knew each one of us would be here during this time and created us with gifts and talents to survive it. He gives us his Word so we can take comfort in his truth.

His Word encourages us to take advantage of this new season we find ourselves in. While it looks like darkness is taking over our world, God has not surrendered his authority or control. He will work all things out for our good and his glory. I have full confidence that we will look back and find that he is faithful, for now and forever!

PRAYER

Father God,

Thank you for giving us your Word as a comfort during troubling seasons. Help us to recognize when fear begins to feed our worries. Help us turn them over to you. I ask that you rest your presence over us today. Let your spirit be our hope, protection, and peace. Like Peter attempting to walk on water to your son, keep our gaze lifted to you instead of focused on the waves crashing around us. Make your truth louder and brighter than the lies the enemy sends our way, for fear is a liar. Keep your guiding hand over the physicians and families on the frontlines of this illness. All these things I ask and lift up in faith.

Amen.

Amanda Van Every

Administrative Assistant, Connection Ministry

avanevery@crossings.church