This is part of our series, Discipleship & the Coronavirus, featuring posts written by GABC members on what God is teaching them during the coronavirus pandemic.
You may read the entire series here.
by Debbie and Terry Martens
What are we learning as we walk through this time of COVID 19 as grandparents with children and grandchildren living overseas?
On our refrigerator is a quote that we printed and laminated to remind us of our desire for our children and ourselves.
It reads:
I would much rather have you live thousands of miles away from me,
fulfilling God’s plan for your life,
than have you living down the street in disobedience.
In the past, as we have sent our two soldier boys to serve on different war fronts. More recently, our son and daughter-in-law went overseas to serve among an unreached people group. That quote on the fridge has reminds us that we are grateful God has gifted our children to minister in different capacities. We desire they obey His call in their lives than always live close by. Reality is that we cannot protect them from harm even if they were close but God is in control and has a far better plan than we do.
Knowing that doesn’t mean that we haven’t or don’t currently have anxious moments for their safety and wellbeing. Still, we are reminded of God’s truths as we walk through these days.
Reminders of God’s Truth
1) 2 Corinthians 10:5b “…and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
We are learning to take every thought captive instead of allowing ourselves to panic or fill our thoughts with too many “what ifs.”
If we worry, we find we can’t focus well on praying for and encouraging others as we want to.
2) Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
We are seeking to maintain the spiritual disciplines, especially spending time in God’s Word. He has been so faithful to encourage us: He is our refuge, He is on the throne, He is ruling over the earth, etc.
3) 2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight”
We are asking God daily to continue His sanctifying work in us and build up our faith in Him. It is so easy to hear a news report (which we limit ourselves to not watch too many) or learn of another positive test and feel anxious. But God wants to strengthen our faith in Him not to focus on what we see or hear about what is happening around us.
4) Matthew 6:25-26 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
We are so very grateful for the technology that allows us to hear others’ voices and see others on our screen. But it is indeed comforting to remember that the God of the heavens hears and sees them as well.
5) Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
We are seeking to live day by day and not living on borrowed time about what the next day may bring. To that end, we are asking God to help us redeem the time and show us how to make the most of each day we are given.
God Rules Over All!
God is not finished with us yet, so we are confident He will continue to reveal truths to us and teach us all as we walk through this time. Psalm 103:19 recently encouraged our hearts:
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
Amen and Amen!