Hey Friend,

A few people have asked me what I am feeling about the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept into our lives and I haven’t known what to say so I’ve stayed quiet. I have been praying that the Lord sort out what I’m feeling because I haven’t been able to put my finger on it.

Have you ever had those moments where you just don’t know what to say? The feelings are all wrapped up like a bundle of yarn and untangling them seems impossible?
Yea.
Me too.

What do you say to the woman grieving during the Coronavirus Pandemic?

As I was praying about this unprecedented season of fear, anxiety, worry, uncertainty, and sadness, I opened the Word of God and the Lord met me there.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,
you have been GRIEVED by various trials...”
1 Peter 1:6 ESV

And the Lord said, “That’s what you’re feeling ... grief over this trial.”
And friends, that’s exactly it.

I am sad.

I am sad for the families who have gotten sick or lost a loved one due to Covid-19.
I am sad for the people who have lost jobs in the last few weeks.
I am grieving for our teachers who are teaching through a screen.
I am grieving for our health care workers.
I am grieving for parents now responsible for schooling their kids having never done it before.
I grieve for the families who can’t hold funerals or weddings.
I am grieving for those in ICU who can’t be comforted by someone they love.
I am grieving those without food and water.
I am grieving the abused who are now stuck in unsafe homes without a place to go for relief.

I am sad, weighed down, and grieved by this trial.

But guess what?

I still have great faith that even in this God is still good. He is still working all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He still has a plan. He is still a miracle worker. He is still omniscient. His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are still higher than mine. He sees. He knows. And I have great faith that He will deliver.

Friends, you can have great faith and still be grieved.

Just because you are saddened by this mighty trial, doesn’t mean you don’t have faith that God won’t see us through. My Friend, you need to hear that because there is far too much condemnation coming from our pulpits that say if we are grieving or sad or shaken it is because we are weak in our faith.

Jesus wept. (John 11:35)
Was He weak?

Paul was to the point where he no longer wanted to live. (2 Cor. 1:8)
Was the man who wrote half the New Testament less of a man of faith?

David had sorrow in his heart all day long. (Ps. 13:2)
Was he no longer a “man after God’s own heart”?

If you are saddened by the events of Covid-19 it means you are human with a compassionate heart. Just make sure that your sadness isn’t driving “your car”. Faith and fear/sadness/grief often go together.

It is in the fertile soil of fear and grief that faith flourishes.

Let faith drive your car and let your grief sit in the back seat.

Jesus wept . . . and then He raised Lazarus.
Paul was suicidal . . . but he rose up and continued to preach God’s Word.
David was full of sorrow . . . but he still proclaimed, “I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:5).

It’s okay to feel sad over this Global Pandemic.
Your faith is being strengthened and your faith is flourishing even though you are grieving the various trials.