Trusting God in Challenging CircumstancesSample

God Wants You to Thrive!

Our world changed overnight. In a matter of days into weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the globe, bringing dramatic changes to virtually every area of our lives. Like wildfire spreading from a distant wilderness into our own backyards, the novel coronavirus attacked human bodies regardless of age, gender, race, income, education, or status. While the elderly and infirm seemed most susceptible, the virus defied categories and seemingly attacked arbitrarily. 

Because it was a new virus, science reached its limitations quickly and found it difficult to discern accurate patterns of how it spread, who was most at risk, and what we could do to protect ourselves and our families. Government and civic leaders struggled to know the best course of action to prevent the spread of the disease. 

As businesses at every level, large and small, adjusted to prohibit and contain the virus, the national and global economies dropped to record historic lows. Millions lost their jobs. International travel ceased as numerous countries closed their borders and airlines suspended flights. Even domestic travel crawled to a standstill as people self-quarantined and those blessed to retain employment worked from home. Schools and universities closed and instead turned to online learning. 

Each day brought dire news of closures, chaos, and confusion as the contagion spread, infecting an unknown number of people and claiming the lives of thousands. We learned what it means to shelter in place, to practice social distancing, and to stock up on toilet paper! 

Even in the bleakest, most overwhelming days of the pandemic, however, we never lost hope. We know the battle belongs to the Lord and that He is the source of all healing. Out of this humbling, crippling experience, followers of Jesus have discovered new opportunities for relying on God’s power to sustain us through unimaginable circumstances even as He uses us to do the impossible.

We know that Christ died to heal you and me and everyone suffering—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, relationally, financially, and beyond. God’s Word could not be clearer: “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isa. 53:5, NLT). 

Jesus conquered the power of sin and death in our lives once and for all, becoming the perfect sacrifice to pay a debt none of us could fulfill. “He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness,” we’re told. “Our instant healing flowed from his wounding” (1 Pet. 2:24, TPT). Even before Christ came to earth in human form, God’s people knew of His healing touch: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps. 147:3). 

No matter what you’re going through, no matter how you’re suffering, no matter what you’ve lost, nothing—not even the coronavirus—can prevent you from knowing the healing touch of the Great Physician! God has not brought you this far and sustained you through the worst of the worldwide pandemic so you can merely survive. He has not blessed you and equipped you so that you can merely return to the status quo. Drawing on the promises of God’s Word and the power of His Holy Spirit, you can stop scrambling to survive and experience the divine anointing to thrive!