Disclaimer:- This is about my experience, thoughts and encounters. I am sharing this in hope that it would provide encouragement.
It’s very hard to avoid the current pandemic that the world is going through. You would have to be from another planet to not know what is happening. This situation has really never been seen or experienced before. Regardless of how it started or what it signifies, I have realised two main themes that have arisen for me….
The Importance of Responsibility
Who do I hold on to?
1. The Importance of Responsibility
Since this virus started spreading you cannot escape the tyranny of forwards being shared especially via WhatsApp. They include theories, prophecies, songs, spoken word, videos, voice notes and more. I would read, listen and look at some of these things. Questions would fill my head regarding; Who? What? Why? When? How? I would wake up with it on my mind and go to sleep with it being my last thought. Most of my conversations and daily tasks would focus on this subject.
I started noticing something, my mindset was changing. Something was starting to seep through. I would look at my children and my husband and this thing would grip me like a vice. I would start to worry, well up and tears would flow. I was wondering why my anxiety was returning. Then as I began to think about my coping strategies and putting them into practice. I realised that the slow killer plaguing me and filling my mind was called ‘FEAR’. I thought, how did this happen and suddenly start to consume me. The main word I was enlightened to was ‘Responsibility’.
No one seemed to be taking responsibility for what they were sending to others. I saw things that were obviously filled with error, yet people still forwarded it. I laughed at times because it was so flawed then realised this was terrible. It was terrible because I could see this inducing fear within other people including myself. However, having my faith and my husband grounded me in the fact that some people just don’t care. So, the responsibility for my own mindset and mental health remains with me. Then this Bible text came to mind, it states…
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are Noble, wherever things are just, wherever things are pure, wherever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
That’s when my turn around started. I went rogue and basically deleted most if not all forwards that I received. I took responsibility also for what I sent around. I made sure that I added a note to explain why I was forwarding that message, video or song. Also for myself I wanted to focus on things that were uplifting and encouraging. Yet a question would still come to mind. Maybe, I should read or look at what these things were saying so that I could be informed. Which brings me to theme number 2.
2. Who am I holding on to?
Last weekend the thought was on my mind about me being kept informed. I racked my brains wondering if I am being naive. Or even weak because I could not handle the information that was going around. Then I realise that regardless of what’s going on or what the future holds. My faith and trust in God are what is vital. I believe that God knows who I am as a person and what will bring out the best in me. He will not only give me what I need but will guide me through whatever the future holds. He will not leave me because he does not want us to be fearful beings let alone instil fear within others. As the Bible reminds us….
“God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1 (NKJV)
This for me yet again highlights our responsibility to uphold this not only for ourselves but for others.
As I contemplated these texts I started to be drawn creatively to the idea of hope and its links to Easter. As I started working on the idea, I heard a sermon by one of my church elders called Martin Finnigan entitled “What is Important”. During that sermon he mentioned a well-known hymn called ‘My Hope is Built on Nothing Less’ and it was like a light bulb went off in my head. It suddenly came to me that even though this Easter will be very different and possibly go down in history. Throughout all that is going on it’s my responsibility to let others know that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to supply us with a hope for the future.
My Hope by Nims
1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) states “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to live in hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
Let me leave you with this song… Stay safe and well…
Looking Like by Erica Campbell
Songs:-
‘Cornerstone’ (My Hope is Built) by Hilsong Worship
Sermon: What is Important? by Martin Finegan
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