Have you ever heard the saying “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”? Well, regardless if you subscribe to that opinion or not, you can agree that we all make plans for our lives at some point. We usually develop steps we need to take in order to reach our desired goal(s). But we also know that in our plans, there exist many variables that we have no control over. These are the things, I can only imagine, that can be deemed as ‘life happening’.
Recently, we asked some of you to share with us what the COVID-19 pandemic has taught you? Below we will look at a couple of the things you guys shared as it relates to life and material things. The common theme seems to be CHANGE and therefore we will try to find the hope in the changes we are faced with.
1. “Nothing is permanent.”
Put another way; ‘change is constant’. This response hit the nail right on the head. The pandemic did show us that business as usual, was only ‘as usual’ for a time. The time came for much of what we have grown accustomed to, to be flipped upside down, rearranged, ended, or just done in a manner that we never once imagined could be the case. Change was at our doorsteps and forced upon us suddenly across all areas of our lives.
The bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” So you can rest assured that the things of this world have their time and purpose. We don’t need to be fearful of change, whether it comes suddenly or gradually. Rest assured that it’s all for a reason.
Trust God! He is working things out just how He wants them to be. Romans 8:28 tells us “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
2. “The material things we invest so much in can become useless overnight.”
The sudden changes faced due to COVID-19 have made some of our best laid plans seem to be pointless now. Imagine you just got a new hair do for school or work, or got new outfits to go out. Then BOOM! Inside. Your classes are online or you are working remotely and no one is getting to see you. Only you are seeing these things. You had a plan but now it doesn’t seem like it made any sense given all that has happened.
So, where’s the hope? Well we do need things here on earth but there’s a better place to store up things that will never become useless. You had the right idea. We must make an investment. Let our investment be one that will benefit us now and also for a time to come.
The bible says in Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Other notable responses:
3. “Life is short and unexpected things can happen, so live up to the greatest potential.”
Simply put, make the best of all the situations we find ourselves in. ‘Things’ will happen but being the best you and being positive may make a simple but big difference to how we live.
4. “The challenging and difficult times we go through is a way of building us or [making us stronger] and eventually [we] will accept and pray more while going through our tough/rough times.”
Change does force us to reflect and introspect. Change encourages growth and builds trust in God who is in total control.
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
It goes on to state that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is because God is the same then, now and forever, that we can have hope of a bright future. He is the reason we can be certain of a positive outcome from all of life’s happenings. God does not change! He wants the best for us. He has a desired plan for all our lives.
So, what should we do? It’s easy to say just ‘Trust Him’.
Let’s reason briefly:
1. He knows the plans He has for us.
2. He is the same then, now and He will be the same tomorrow.
We should make our plans on that foundation that does not change. Let us plan our lives in Him. Change will happen around us, and in our lives, but we can have the hope that everything is working exactly how it needs to be for our best outcome.
That’s how we trust Him, knowing that He is the same and wants the best for us !
Lay up your treasures with Him.
Thank you for reading. Please join us next Friday as we continue to look at the lessons that we have learnt throughout this year.
ThreeSixteen Ministries 