COVID+

I want to start by saying that in no means am I discrediting the severity of what COVID has brought throughout this blog, I am just trying to give glory and honor where it is due and to make people aware of something they might not be able to see.

If you would’ve asked me how I felt about Covid 19 back in March, I would’ve described it in a totally different way. I had just returned from NY on a mission trip that was so amazing and spiritually fulfilling. We were in constant contact with people sharing the gospel. This was immediately followed by 2 weeks quarantine..do not go home, do not see your parents, do not collect $200. While a lot of my friends got to quarantine in their homes with their families, I was so lucky to be a full adult with a house completely separate from my parents (I say that in the most sarcastic tone because it was absolutely awful). I was coming from one of the most populated and most diverse cities in the US to complete solitude. It was a total shock and I did not like it one bit. I ate because I was bored and had many breakdowns which some of my friends experienced (thank you all for still being my friends after that time). I had went through times of wanting to talk to people to times of wanting to just sit in my shower and cry (I don’t know why I needed to go to the shower to cry, it’s just a habit I guess). I missed my friends, I missed New York, I missed my family, but what I was missing the most was that critical time with God. I realized this about a week into my quarantine. I was filling my body with unhealthy food, a lot of sulking, and binge watching so many shows on Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. I was physically drained from not being able to leave my house, but my soul was drained as well. I wasn’t feeding it what it was craving and it was starving for God.

With that being said, my negative attitude about being in quarantine did not go away immediately, however I had come to realize that while I was completely alone in the worlds standards, God was still with me every step of the way. Every time I had a break down, every time I didn’t feel like talking to people, and gracefully in the time that I realized what I needed was Him. You see, God doesn’t want you to quarantine from him during this period. He doesn’t want you to be six feet apart (spiritually). He wants you as close as possible, and so does your soul.

Over the last several months I have still been disappointed by Covid. My job has been crazy, I have made plans to see my friend in Florence which was cancelled when the country shut down, I haven’t been able to attend an actual church building. While I’m on the subject of being in an actual church building, I will go ahead and chase that rabbit for a second, and many people will probably disagree here, and I am sorry if you do. People use to say, “You don’t need a church building to get Jesus.” You are right you do not. But the fellowship with other Christians is so important to your walk. During this time of being away from my church family has been a struggle. Thank goodness I have friends I still hang out with during the week who point me to Christ but there is just nothing like sitting inside or outside of your church building with your church family soaking up the word of God. Okay so I caught that rabbit, let’s move on.

While many things have changed negatively from Covid, some positive things have come about as well! I have realized that this life is so short. This realization come with the progression of your age of course, but it has come with the facts from the news. So many people dying each day. I realized that while being safe and focusing on my hygiene during this time, I will not stop living my life. I will not be scared to do the things I want to do. I will take extra precautions but I will not let this time be taken for granted. I don’t know how long Covid will last, but I do know that while this time passes, we will not get a single second back. Once I came to this conclusion, I also came to the realization that I absolutely love to travel. Since May I have been to the beach, North Carolina, Smokey Mountain, and hiking in Alabama. I have kept my distance from others outside of my party but oh the gospel conversations I have had with others. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you to go out and jump on a plane and go travel the world. But I am telling you to please not live your life in fear. Let’s not let Covid steal anything else from us. Let’s be cautious about what we do, where we go, and how we get there. Let’s not just exist during this time but live. Let’s stop letting Covid be a constant negative feedback and let’s start embracing the positives Covid has brought. Let’s start embracing that God has a plan and a purpose for each step of this and trust in him.

While we were in North Carolina, my friends and I were doing a Bible study together. This was probably one of my favorite moments throughout all of this. We were in Psalm 46 which talks about when the mountains being carried into the sea. You see, for the Israelites, the sea was such a scary place. They didn’t know what was out there and they were terrified of it. On the other hand, the mountain was their refuge. The place they went for comfort and safety. So in this passage the writer is saying, even though my safe place give way into my most fearful destination, you are still a God who will lead me beside call waters. You are still a God who makes a way. A little farther down in the passage is the scripture that so many people are familiar with “Be still and Know that I am God.” We need to hand over our troubled hearts and our worries and our concerns to the God of all creation. We need to lay down our burdens, and be still and just trust that He has us during this time. Covid did not come as a surprise to God, let’s trust him through this. Let’s be faithful. Let’s grow in our relationship with Him. Let’s not let this time pass us by but find a purpose during this time. Let’s stop letting the negative statuses leave us hopeless. Let’s find our hope in the only place it flows, in Jesus Christ. Let’s see the positive in Covid 19.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Love,

Hailey