Devotions for March 31
Today's devotion is written by Stacy Kutz, who sent it to our High School and College Students and shares it today with all of us:
March Madness: Cancelled
Disneyland: Closed
Classes: Online or cancelled
Travel to Overseas: Suspended
Worship: Livestreamed
Cancelled. Closed. Online. Suspended. Livestreamed. Is anyone else tired of hearing these words?
It’s inevitable that you are a victim of cancelled events, postponed trips, remote classes, livestreamed worship and messed up plans. Maybe it’s your senior year of high school, and the last semester you thought you had with your friends has been significantly shortened. Maybe you had planned a spring break college mission trip to Kenya or the Ukraine, and now you are home with your parents instead. Maybe you’ve been looking forward to spring sports, school plays and senior skip day – and all of these plans have been put on hold. This is the nature of the situation in our country and in our world. We are all feeling the weight of cancellations and disappointment.
Understand this: you have permission to be disappointed.
It’s not wrong to be disappointed. It’s not a sin to be sad. It’s ok to mourn the fact that the next few months will not be what you thought they would. And the beauty of the disappointment we face right now is that we are all in it together. (pause here to join in a HS Musical flash mob!). You are not the only one in the world, the country, the town, the room that is feeling it. Cancellations are frustrating. But while we all agree on this, let us also realize this:
When everything else is cancelled, there is One Thing that never is. There is One Person who never cancels on us. When everyone else says, “Our doors are closed. God says, “My arms are open wide.”
“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:17-18
When the health department says, “Practice social distancing.” Jesus says, “Come to me.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28
When your social media feed shows nothing but hysteria and fear, the Holy Spirit says, “I will comfort you and give you peace.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
God is bigger than the coronavirus.
Did you hear that?
God is bigger than the coronavirus. Let’s entrust our hope, our future, and even our disappointment to Him. Because He can handle it!
March Madness: Cancelled
Disneyland: Closed
Classes: Online or cancelled
Travel to Overseas: Suspended
Worship: Livestreamed
Cancelled. Closed. Online. Suspended. Livestreamed. Is anyone else tired of hearing these words?
It’s inevitable that you are a victim of cancelled events, postponed trips, remote classes, livestreamed worship and messed up plans. Maybe it’s your senior year of high school, and the last semester you thought you had with your friends has been significantly shortened. Maybe you had planned a spring break college mission trip to Kenya or the Ukraine, and now you are home with your parents instead. Maybe you’ve been looking forward to spring sports, school plays and senior skip day – and all of these plans have been put on hold. This is the nature of the situation in our country and in our world. We are all feeling the weight of cancellations and disappointment.
Understand this: you have permission to be disappointed.
It’s not wrong to be disappointed. It’s not a sin to be sad. It’s ok to mourn the fact that the next few months will not be what you thought they would. And the beauty of the disappointment we face right now is that we are all in it together. (pause here to join in a HS Musical flash mob!). You are not the only one in the world, the country, the town, the room that is feeling it. Cancellations are frustrating. But while we all agree on this, let us also realize this:
When everything else is cancelled, there is One Thing that never is. There is One Person who never cancels on us. When everyone else says, “Our doors are closed. God says, “My arms are open wide.”
“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:17-18
When the health department says, “Practice social distancing.” Jesus says, “Come to me.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28
When your social media feed shows nothing but hysteria and fear, the Holy Spirit says, “I will comfort you and give you peace.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
God is bigger than the coronavirus.
Did you hear that?
God is bigger than the coronavirus. Let’s entrust our hope, our future, and even our disappointment to Him. Because He can handle it!