Judges 6:13 And Gideon said to him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why has all this happen to us? Where are all His miracles our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us out of Egypt? but now the LORD has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

We can see in the reference scripture that we are not the first to question God in trials of life. In light of the crisis, it is so important to stay connected. There have been various attempts through day time television shows, Instagram lives, Snapchat television, and numerous Zoom video chats to remain connected in such a secluded state. While being home, I have watched people post about being bored, depressed, unproductive, and looking to their electronic devices or televisions for some hope or to pass time. Whether we are playing games, scrolling through feeds, or binge watching tv shows it is apparent we want to somehow keep sane and not be filled with worry while going through this crisis. If I’m honest, I can admit I too have watched shows, scrolled, and basically avoided staying connected to The One Who is the Creator of connection, God.

It’s funny how much we look to social media to stay linked to one another, but does it bring true community? The song battles are entertaining, the timelines can be informative, Tik Tok is appealing, but when the day or night is done do you still feel alone, uneasy, hopeless, and frustrated? Not coming against social media in its entirety, but nothing should replace quiet, alone time with God. This is where the beauty of God so compassionately presents Itself. Our dear brother, Paul, wrote in Phil. 4:11-13 that he learned to be content. Now, this committed man of God was shipwrecked, beaten tirelessly, severely stoned, had restless nights, continued dangerous trails all to later say he has learned to be content in later passages found in 2Cor. 11:23-28. For all of you who are still reading, that wasn’t to scare you. Moreover, to show contentment isn’t in “the good life” or getting every single thing you desire. Paul’s surety was in the Deity. His devotion to God produced divine contentment. He felt the pain, the pressure, and the panic, but still chose not to live in utter despair. Discomfort did not dictate His position in Christ. Not so much as an astound apostle, but a dedicated distributor of God’s Message and the building of His church.

Again, this is not to say he was absent from feeling everything that came with his hardships. The focal point is knowing he decided not to make his hardships his god. There wasn’t some new picture he drew in his mind to keep him focused. It was not fanciful thinking to distract him from the woes he experienced. Likewise, there wasn’t any retail therapy, spa treatments, or chamomile scented bubble baths. This luxury of contentment was bred through the seemingly odd force of affliction. Still with me? Trust this will soon make sense. David too knew suffering all too well. He even stated that it was good for him to be afflicted because it led to him learning more of God. More of God leads to what? If you answered contentment then you’re right.

Think about it like this. When in relationship with someone you begin to learn their character. Depending on the intimacy level you will start to pick up their character traits. Whether that’s good or bad, it is indeed inevitable to not share similarities over time. With that being said, in this crisis don’t loose connection with Christ. The more we choose to connect with everything else, the more we carelessly start to adopt what we absorb. If you don’t know Christ what an opportune time to learn. At any rate, this is a great reset for the world. I hear and have physically seen nature looking better while the world is on a limited pause. I give my deepest sympathy to those who are grieving, in financial uncertainty, and continuous anxiety. All I have to offer is the most fiercest Love I’ve experienced that too has embraced me and comforted me in loss of loved ones, financial uncertainty, and anxiety as well. I not only speak as one who believes scripture. My firmness comes from being a written epistle as well. God can and will bring you through if you let Him. It’s in His Character. Remember Who He is and if you never knew Him try His Permanence.

With Love Always,

Marissa 🙂

Lord, thank you for each and every reader. Thank You for this reset to get to know You all the more. Please comfort those in mourning and despair regarding loved ones in this pandemic. Your gentle embrace soothes souls and renews minds. For those suicidal, please show them their priceless value. I pray they see Your Blood, Jesus, so they won’t feel the deceiving need to shed their own. Hug them immensely Father because they aren’t alone. For You are Sovereign! You are Love! You are everlasting. I intercede that they will see Your goodness in the land of the living. There is glory clothed in contentment after this, in Jesus Name, Amen. Thanks Dad :). Also, scurry on over to my YouTube channel, subscribe, watch intro and drop a rose in the comment section 🙂 Click here