Are You Mad About Everything Covid-19 Right Now?

Are you mad about all the closings and restrictions due to the Coronavirus?  Do you think our government or medical establishments are overreacting?  Are you to the point of cussing about it, or suspecting there’s a political agenda or conspiracy afoot?  Are you starting to see certain public figures or local officials or even friends on Facebook as “the enemy”?

As an extrovert who depends on time with people to stay emotionally afloat, I understand the frustration, depression, anger, sense of powerlessness and hopelessness this all generates.  

But I also believe this verse:  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:19  What if God is using all this to do His work?  What if we are despising it and angry about it, but there’s something good going on that we re not paying attention to?

I have learned from reading the Old Testament that God doesn’t like complaining.  Time and again his people whined about things to the point where He said, “OK, if you don’t like that, try this.”  We who consider ourselves so materially blessed should know from all the “First World Problems” memes that our “problems” are envied by much of the world.  

I know it’s a serious dilemma to try to work from home and school our kids.  I know it’s a terrible hardship that businesses are closing down.  I hate not getting to do “church” the usual way.  

But what if there’s a blessing, or even a plan, in there that we are missing because we are mad that things didn’t go the way we wanted?  The Israelites complained about having to leave Egypt, for pity’s sake!  That grew nostalgic for the place they had been slaves!  Are we making the same mistake?  God has moved us to a new place, maybe freed us from something enslaving us, but we can’t see it ahead because we are walking backwards, looking at what we left behind.

Let’s try this:  “Keep your eyes open for God; watch for His works.”  Psalm 105:4.  “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”  Philippians 2:14  Let’s try reframing the problem and see what new thing God is doing.