As I’m sure is true for all of you, the last few months have been a struggle. In addition to everything COVID, I went from being an entrepreneur with my girls in daycare full-time to a pregnant (surprise!) stay-at-home-mom squeezing in work wherever I can. I have watched in disbelief as the world loses its ever-loving mind. I have grieved as my human cohabitants went from supporting one another as we faced a pending pandemic to tearing one other apart over literally e-ver-y-thing.
I’ve never been wearier of the world than I am right now. I’ve faced my share of problems in this life, but for the most part they were mine alone, limited to my own little bubble. The world hadn’t flipped and gone totally bonkers. My friends weren’t turning against one another and arguing over whose lives matter most, or debating the ethics of wearing a piece of cloth strapped to one’s face. They weren’t excoriating parents over their desire to send their children back to school (or not), or denouncing the choice to return to places of worship in person (or not).
I’m tired of the confusion, of the conflicting “expert opinions”, of the roller coaster ride of dread we ride on repeat. Every. Single. Day. I’m tired of rhetoric and dissention and double standards and finger-pointing and blame. I’m absolutely exhausted by the hate-filled cesspool we call social media. We have somehow managed to take one of the few things that could have kept us connected during such a disconnected time and instead use it to tear one another down. It’s become something used to shred apart the intentions of people we know have good hearts, who we have loved our entire lives but have now become our enemies simply because they see things differently than we do.
I have to confess, there have been moments when I’ve just been done. I want off this crazy world. I’m ready to check out, leave it all behind, and go be with Jesus where people don’t fight over stupid stuff or die from viruses (or cancer or car accidents for that matter) or confuse self-righteousness with morality.
But guess what? God isn’t done. And he doesn’t want me to be done either. I’m still here, and since I know He doesn’t make mistakes, the only conclusion to be made is there’s a reason I’m still here.
2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (HCSB) Whether we like it or not, God has chosen for us to be put on display. Why? Because we are to put Him on display even (especially!) during hard times. The world needs Jesus now more than ever. They need to breathe deeply the aroma of love, peace, and the promise of more than this life. Salvation is the breath of fresh air people are craving without realizing what it is they so desperately desire. It’s our responsibility as God’s children to spread the life-giving aroma of the only Hope that matters. And we can’t do that if we’ve thrown up our hands and shut ourselves away because we’re tired of dealing with all the crazy.
Quitting isn’t an option. My own human strength is admittedly depleted these days, which means it’s imperative I lean into the Father and allow Him to strengthen me. I know He will—God tells us in Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary, and strengthens the powerless.” (HCSB) It’s a promise all of His children need to stand on. Trust in Him and let His strength take over and do the rest. Choose to engage with those around you in love rather than frustration. Allow God to put you on display so you can spread the sweet aroma of Jesus during these crazy roller coaster times.