Social Distancing, Not Isolating

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what is happening in our world today. My family is staying home as much as possible. I'm sure you are to at this point. Depending on your personality or even lifestyle, this could already be something that comes a little easier to you and then there are others who this is so foreign to stay in, home school kids and cook 7 days a week! Whatever place you're in, I know that this can cause stress in our lives. I want to encourage you today, as I do the same for myself, with some facts and with some scripture. I want to also help explain why it is important for us all to stay at home and do our part so that we can get back to normal. We are all in this together and we will all get through it because this too shall pass.

The news we are hearing each day can be such a heavy weight on our lives but there is also other news we need to anchor into, The Good News or Gospel of Jesus Christ. Where is your anchor? Whatever news you anchor into each day will determine your mindset and how you navigate through this COVID-19 pandemic.

Psalm 91: 6-7, 10-11, 14-15

6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

10 no evil will conquer you;

no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

Psalm 91 is something I have been grounded in all my life and still today. My parents had me learn this whole chapter when I was a little girl and I am so grateful today that I can call on it from memory and speak this truth. I encourage you to read this daily and let it sink into your spirit.

For me, I work a good bit from home but knowing I can't go out makes me want to even more. Kind of like telling me I can't have a cookie and guess what I want? A cookie! I think we naturally are all like this a little. We want what we can't have. Staying home for some, may be because they have now lost their job or their kids are home from school. Many are used to socializing regularly or at least having interaction with co-workers, going to the gym, having coffee with friends, going to church or just hanging out with friends over dinner. When this is all taken away so suddenly and fear along with it, anxiety and depression can also be an issue for some.

(Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.)

Depression and anxiety is at an all time high in our society today. This is where the enemy would want to destroy your mind. Being asked to stay home is against our nature. We were design to have community with one another. Especially women! We need to connect with each other, see each other and hug each other! Now we are "trapped" in our own small world with our spouse and children or even alone. Loneliness is a factor for some people. Others are sneaking to the bathroom to get a moment away from their family they've been with everyday since this all started. I keep hearing all the "fun" things we could be doing, but are we having fun yet? The jury is still out here!

"Why should I stay home? I'm healthy"

It's good to know the why, right? We've all heard that we need to stay home and in small groups and those groups are getting smaller each day. Even today the governor of SC ask no more than groups of 3 to gather! The scary thing with COVID-19 is that it's hiding in plain sight. I recently read that for every one person that is diagnosed with this virus, there are five infected people who are asymptomatic, sharing this invisible virus. What some may have thought was a cold or bad allergies could have been the virus but didn't affect them like it can others. Most of us will never have symptoms and others only have mild symptoms. That's why we need to stay home right now to help "flatten the curve" of this virus so that those who are at high risk are not affected by our ignorance that we may have it. I'm sure you've heard who's high risk already but did you know that 40% of Americans meets the criteria of high risk with our rate of chronic disease in this country. Think about that. This could mean your mom, dad, siblings, neighbor, friend or even a child. So for now, forego the dinner party, game night, haircut, botox, nail salon, playdates and sleepovers. I'm sure you can add more to this list. So I ask you, are you doing your part?

Can you do your part?

How to Social Distance but not Isolate myself?

I think we've all learned how to do this a little with social media. Now we can all thank God that he gave this idea to the creators of aol instant messenger and myspace! Now we have at our fingertips to chat with whom ever we want on Facebook, Instagram or Facetime. We've been doing this for years now. Now it's time to use it to its potential.

Do a zoom call for that bible study or prayer group.

Facetime your friends and family instead of a phone call.

There's even ways to watch movies together with Netflix!

Now's a good time to read that book you've been wanting to read.

Make those recipes you never have time to.

Start working out since everyday can be Monday now :)

Just stay in touch with your tribe and be sure to check on others that you know may be alone or might need something. If you're not in the high risk group, think of something you can do each day to love one another.

In the end, God is in control. He has the final say. I promise He cares about what matters to you! Even if it's that you don't have anymore toilet paper because of all the TP hoarders out there! Ha ha! His word says that when you seek him, you will find Him. How will you recognize His voice if you're not talking to Him? Sometimes we have to get still so we can listen.

We have to ANCHOR into His news.

Jeremiah 29:13

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”