Staying Hopeful at Home
Unless you are deemed an essential worker of some sort, you are probably heeding the warnings and staying at home during this Coronavirus crisis. While at home, you are probably experiencing frustration, fear, and anxiety that come from a combination of the social imbalance the lockdown has created, and an excessive input of news and information from various sources. A repeated theme I hear is the sense of hopelessness people are beginning to feel as they consider the immediate and future ramifications of this situation. The question that then faces us, is how do we stay hopeful in a seemingly hopeless global crisis? How are we to make the best of this time in history, living in hope, whether at home or still going out to work, or even if out of work? Here are a few suggestions (well, some are more than suggestions), which I pray will help you, if applicable.
1. Tend to the spring of hope—your heart, mind and soul:
Hope is a matter of the heart, mind, and soul. The Bible says in Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This is a time to overflow with hope, not with fear and hopelessness. And God is ready to fill us with joy and peace so that we abound with hope, by the power the Holy Spirit supplies. How can we have this hope on a daily basis? The only way is by setting ourselves apart to Him every day, reading the word of God and praying, and so finding the Lord set apart in our hearts, thus being filled with hope. Peter said, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Pet. 3:15). That hope comes from reading the word of God and praying to God based on His word, is made clear throughout scripture. For example, the Psalmist said, “Remember the word to Your servant, on which You have made me hope” (Ps. 119:49).
What a privilege for us to spend extended times with Lord, reading His word and going to our knees in prayer! This is the most important way to stay hopeful, without which the other suggestions are moot points.
2. Stay disciplined—schedules and goals:
How easy for us to drift off into a lazy, pointless and unproductive mode because we are at home more than usual. We can keep from this by maintaining some form of a daily schedule. A list of simple and realistic goals for the day is also a help. If you want to be a blob, then at least be a blob that knows it’s being a blob for a while and knows what it will do after blob mode ends! If we have some framework within which we manage this extended time at home, it will keep us from an unnecessary intake of info that tends to make us hopeless, and will also keep us from “schedule shock” once normalcy is restored. Lastly, it will add a quality and meaningfulness to times of extended rest.
3. Learn—read books, watch videos, listen to sermons:
For most of us who are staying at home, social media and news media tend to be our go to sources of input. That’s helpful. But too much is harmful. Instead, read good books. That reading list that has been growing over the last few months (or years!) beckons. The treasures that good books can yield especially during trials are precious. Then there are worthwhile videos and movies. Be picky: does it waste my time? Does it cause me to know God more, or care for people more, or make me wiser and more intelligent? Does it inspire or stir the imagination positively? Then there are some anointed men of God that the Lord has blessed this world and His Church with, whose sermons are worth listening to (there are also some that are not!) during these times. This is a time to learn about God, ourselves, and the world—a time which will not return. Make the most of it: learn!
4. Exercise and Enjoy—stay physically active and have fun:
This can also be a time of relaxation and fun: those indoor recreational activities like playing a musical instrument, listening to good music or playing board games. Also, have you seen those memes/pictures/videos of what people and animals will look like after the lockdown is lifted? For some people, the joke could be on you, if, that is, you don’t tend to your physical body. If we are going to be mostly sedentary, our metabolisms will drop, and we will tend toward depressive states of mind. Movement is necessary. Your gym may be closed, but there are creative ways to move and exercise at home. (This would be a good time to pull out those as-seen-on-tv exercise contraptions you bought but never used!) The point is, don’t lose good health over this lockdown. Eat well, rest well, stay active, stay safe.
5. Stay isolated, yet connected:
The buzz-phrase of this time is “social distancing!” The call to stay isolated is clear, whether to keep from getting the virus or giving it to someone else. We are isolating and quarantining. But we can still be connected: first with those we live with at home, and then with those outside our homes. God in His mercy made sure that we have all the hardware and software we need to stay connected with each other before He allowed this virus to breakout. Let’s use the gift of technology we have, to stay connected with friends, family, and fellow believers around the world. Fellowship may be virtual for a while, but it’s worth it.
6. Repent and reconnect:
For many, this is doubtless a time to reflect. It may be a time God is showing us some sin that we kept ignoring in our busyness. It could be that God is saying, “Finally, I have your attention on this issue.” You alone know your sin and how God is speaking to you about it. This is a time to repent of our sins collectively and individually. It may also be a time for relational restoration. Perhaps the sin you need to repent of is unforgiveness. You have cut yourself off from someone for whatever reason and need to forgive them and be reconciled. Or perhaps you are someone who needs to ask for forgiveness. Who knows if you will get another chance, or if they will? Our cry to God in these days of plight is “Lord, have mercy!” We must not forget, however, that Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7)
7. Finish what you started:
This season at home may be the time for you to prayerfully defeat the demon of procrastination. Projects, assignments or jobs that we began and left half done, or things we said we would begin but did not, can be redeemed. Perhaps we gave someone a word and reneged on it. This is as good a time as any to come good on our word and work.
8. Show compassion and kindness:
Our hearts are touched by the sacrifice of doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel who are on the frontlines of battling this virus at the risk of their own lives. In many cases, it is sheer compassion on their part. What can we do while at home? Well, charity begins at home. Staying with the same folks everyday does not give us the right to be ornery. Let’s show kindness and compassion to our family members and neighbors. Then there are innumerable poor and needy folk, who are especially vulnerable during this time. There are people with homes, but without jobs. There are also people without both homes and jobs. Please don’t hoard but share your groceries and supplies with those in need. If you can’t, consider donating to trustworthy charitable organizations that can.
9. Reset—Reevaluate and Reorder:
If you ask me for a caption statement for this global Corona crisis, it would be this: God has pressed the reset button. Let us not resist. Rather, with God’s help and in the light of His Word, the Bible, let us reevaluate our lives and see if they are pleasing to God or not. And if not, let us be wise and obedient in reordering them to please God.
For many of you, however, the Coronavirus chaos is a wakeup call, for you do not know what your tomorrow holds, neither do you know the One who hold your tomorrow—the eternal One who can grant you eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have never had the assurance of your sins being forgiven and the security of Heaven being granted you, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. He will forgive you, heal you, fill your heart and home with such purpose and hope today, that only keeps getting brighter in the face of darkness and despair, until you finally reach your home in Heaven with Him, where all the hope of humanity will be perfectly met, and eternally fulfilled.
Kenny Damara