When COVID-19 struck and forced everyone to be quarantined in their homes, I, like most young people undoubtedly, began to panic and grow anxious about what I was going to do about school, extracurricular activities, and much more. I couldn’t do the activities I wanted to do out of fear of what could happen.
But more than just hindering my daily activities, I also let my fear stop me from seeking God. COVID tested my patience and my faith in God in a way I never thought possible before. It pushed me to go beyond myself in order to find Him. Let’s just say that I don’t enjoy being pushed outside of my comfort zone, especially during times this stressful and uncertain.
However, during one of Wednesday’s Bible Studies my Bishop reminded me that COVID isn’t the end game. It’s not the end because God hasn’t declared it to be the end. While the world may look hopeless from our point of view and while COVID has resulted in much loss and sorrow, we can trust that God still has more in store for us. His promises still stand and He still has plans He’s working out behind the scenes. We just have to wait on Him and be faithful in the waiting.
What are we as Christians going in our current situation?
For me, prayer is almost always what I turn to whenever I feel stuck spiritually and don’t know where else to turn. Prayer, for me, is more than just a set of words that I say to the Lord, but an intentional act of surrender.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus talks about prayer and shares how it shouldn’t be for show. We shouldn’t just pray around others in order to be seen. When we do that, it becomes more about us and our own self-righteousness then about Christ and our relationship with Him.
Matthew 6:5-8 says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
When we pray just to be seen by others, it becomes more about us and our own self-righteousness then about Christ and our relationship with Him. Click To TweetPrayer is surrender. It’s allowing yourself to let go of your fears, your insecurities, your shame; whatever it is that is keeping you from fully seeking God and give them all to Him. It’s not easy, I know. I myself, whether consciously or not, have continued to hold onto things that I know I should give over to God.
However, I have to continually remind myself that God hears my prayers. Even my cries that aren’t heard by others.
Psalms 102:1-2 says, “Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to You! Do not hide Your face from me in the day of distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!”
God hears my prayers. Even my cries that aren’t heard by others. Click To TweetThe psalmist, in his state of pain and feeling like he’s overwhelmed calls out to the Father to not hide his face from him and incline his ear to him. We should be doing the same. In our periods of pain, frustration, and feeling like we’re being overwhelmed; especially during the time of COVID, we have to cry out to the Father.
He hears us. He hears the cries of his children and he sees us when we are at our lowest points. Never let the pain, fear, frustration or anger stop you from running to the Father who’s arms are stretched wide for you, waiting to embrace you.
During this stressful time, as we as a nation and as a people are trying to slowly make our way back towards a somewhat normal routine, we as Christians must remain resolute. Remembering that despite the chaos around us, we can turn to our Father in prayer, and He will hear us.
