Corona Devo 10
Although it is humbling, and a little humiliating, I have to be honest with you.
Some people are running out of food supplies and they are nervous. Some are freaking out about scarce toilet paper quantities. I want to (embarrassingly) bare my soul to you and admit that I am running low on something else: patience.
One area that I keep failing in, is that it’s only been one week that my kids have been out of the daily structure and discipline of going to school in a building, and yet it feels to me like months. I comprehend that they no longer have the 6-7 hours of scheduled classes and teachers and friends. I understand that we are transitioning into a “new normal”, but the embarrassing problem for me is that I can’t last the whole day of trying to fill their time and bellies. They are not little heathens. They are great kids. I love our kids, and count them as the biggest blessings in my husband and my lives. But still, I keep running out of patience in managing our full-days together.
Another area that I am lacking in patience is the family/friend/neighbor “distance”. I miss my people! Don’t you? I comprehend the importance of not infecting anyone, especially the elderly. And I understand the purpose and eventual benefit (lower infection and death counts), but my patience has worn thin in waiting to see everyone.
And again, it’s only been a week! I am weak!
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:8-9
Luckily, for me (and you), the Lord has a word for us in 2 Peter 3:8-9. He has a teaching for us. He has a better way for us. His framing of time is radically different than ours, and He is the definition of patient.
I need to redefine my point-of-reference when it comes to time and patience. Thus far, I have been largely been relying on my strength and energy and patience to maneuver through the last week. I need to convert my mindset over to Jesus and make a “time-change” into living a little more in God’s time zone.
I appreciate that the beginning of this verse is kind and inclusive to us. We (the reader and follower of Christ) are lovingly called “dear friends”. It’s as if my (yours too?) impatience is understandable to Peter (the writer of this Book.) He is not judging us, but he is teaching us that we need to fall more in step with God and God’s grasp of time. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ~2 Peter 3:8
I think Peter is saying, “Relax, Sister, you are in this for the long haul.” And he would be right. The Corona-quarantine is not going to be completed in a snap of anyone’s fingers, and similarly, our life’s journey with the Lord is not a series of quick and easy accomplishments. Most things take time, and (have you ever noticed) most of our deepest growth with Jesus occurs (or can occur if we allow it) while we are in life’s waiting room.
God is so patient with us, day after day, and part of the spiritual background for that is that his calendar is different than ours. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ~2 Peter 3:8
When I lose my patience, or have internal (and external) conversations about the inconveniences that this unprecedented pause in American life has brought to my little world, I am ashamed when I realize and accept that God is speaking with love and authority right into my impatient heart when he reminds me: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:8-9
God is not late in showing up for us during the Corona uncertainty that we are facing. He is not “slow” simply because we are impatient in wanting to be “done” with closed schools and businesses and interruptions in family and social gatherings. These are ways that we “understand slowness”, but I am realizing that what we view as “slowness”, the Lord may be viewing as something else. As opportunities for growth, for character-building, for becoming more like Him. He is revealing my shortcomings as a mom, so that I might repent and become more like Him to my children.
The next verse shames me because (in only the past week) I have fallen so short in comparison to Him. And we may have many more weeks to go! Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:9 Instead of snapping at my kids, or feeling overwhelmed because I am not managing the unscheduled time or wondering where the balance is between managing and enjoying time—instead of these things--Jesus is patient with you. He continues to and will continue to show us mercy and patience. He loves us. He is a good Father. I can only pray and ask Him to fill me (us) up with that: with Him, so that I can reflect His love and patience and mercy to my kids, and the world.
Because I realize that the world is watching. We need hope and love and a Savior right now. Society boasts of many idols and false gods to temporarily fill our tanks, but they always come up short, and we still end up feeling empty. There is true hope and love and patience for us in Jesus Christ. And He is waiting patiently for you and me to come to Him. Whether that means coming to Him for the first time, or coming back to Him after I’ve lost my patience (again). He is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:9
I pray that just for today You will fill us with Your patience, Lord, and a better understanding of Your timing and purposes.
Blessings,
sarah
Some people are running out of food supplies and they are nervous. Some are freaking out about scarce toilet paper quantities. I want to (embarrassingly) bare my soul to you and admit that I am running low on something else: patience.
One area that I keep failing in, is that it’s only been one week that my kids have been out of the daily structure and discipline of going to school in a building, and yet it feels to me like months. I comprehend that they no longer have the 6-7 hours of scheduled classes and teachers and friends. I understand that we are transitioning into a “new normal”, but the embarrassing problem for me is that I can’t last the whole day of trying to fill their time and bellies. They are not little heathens. They are great kids. I love our kids, and count them as the biggest blessings in my husband and my lives. But still, I keep running out of patience in managing our full-days together.
Another area that I am lacking in patience is the family/friend/neighbor “distance”. I miss my people! Don’t you? I comprehend the importance of not infecting anyone, especially the elderly. And I understand the purpose and eventual benefit (lower infection and death counts), but my patience has worn thin in waiting to see everyone.
And again, it’s only been a week! I am weak!
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:8-9
Luckily, for me (and you), the Lord has a word for us in 2 Peter 3:8-9. He has a teaching for us. He has a better way for us. His framing of time is radically different than ours, and He is the definition of patient.
I need to redefine my point-of-reference when it comes to time and patience. Thus far, I have been largely been relying on my strength and energy and patience to maneuver through the last week. I need to convert my mindset over to Jesus and make a “time-change” into living a little more in God’s time zone.
I appreciate that the beginning of this verse is kind and inclusive to us. We (the reader and follower of Christ) are lovingly called “dear friends”. It’s as if my (yours too?) impatience is understandable to Peter (the writer of this Book.) He is not judging us, but he is teaching us that we need to fall more in step with God and God’s grasp of time. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ~2 Peter 3:8
I think Peter is saying, “Relax, Sister, you are in this for the long haul.” And he would be right. The Corona-quarantine is not going to be completed in a snap of anyone’s fingers, and similarly, our life’s journey with the Lord is not a series of quick and easy accomplishments. Most things take time, and (have you ever noticed) most of our deepest growth with Jesus occurs (or can occur if we allow it) while we are in life’s waiting room.
God is so patient with us, day after day, and part of the spiritual background for that is that his calendar is different than ours. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ~2 Peter 3:8
When I lose my patience, or have internal (and external) conversations about the inconveniences that this unprecedented pause in American life has brought to my little world, I am ashamed when I realize and accept that God is speaking with love and authority right into my impatient heart when he reminds me: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:8-9
God is not late in showing up for us during the Corona uncertainty that we are facing. He is not “slow” simply because we are impatient in wanting to be “done” with closed schools and businesses and interruptions in family and social gatherings. These are ways that we “understand slowness”, but I am realizing that what we view as “slowness”, the Lord may be viewing as something else. As opportunities for growth, for character-building, for becoming more like Him. He is revealing my shortcomings as a mom, so that I might repent and become more like Him to my children.
The next verse shames me because (in only the past week) I have fallen so short in comparison to Him. And we may have many more weeks to go! Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:9 Instead of snapping at my kids, or feeling overwhelmed because I am not managing the unscheduled time or wondering where the balance is between managing and enjoying time—instead of these things--Jesus is patient with you. He continues to and will continue to show us mercy and patience. He loves us. He is a good Father. I can only pray and ask Him to fill me (us) up with that: with Him, so that I can reflect His love and patience and mercy to my kids, and the world.
Because I realize that the world is watching. We need hope and love and a Savior right now. Society boasts of many idols and false gods to temporarily fill our tanks, but they always come up short, and we still end up feeling empty. There is true hope and love and patience for us in Jesus Christ. And He is waiting patiently for you and me to come to Him. Whether that means coming to Him for the first time, or coming back to Him after I’ve lost my patience (again). He is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:9
I pray that just for today You will fill us with Your patience, Lord, and a better understanding of Your timing and purposes.
Blessings,
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/
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