“If you have raced with men on foot, and
they have wearied you,
how will you compete with horses?”
Jeremiah 12:5
President Trump last night extended social distancing guidance to April 30, saying he predicts great things by June 1st. Originally, he was shooting for Easter to loosen things up. As it is, experts are now saying COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 200,000 people.
Frankly, I wonder about that given that many countries look to be recovering. Nobody has come even close to the numbers that we are warned about. Is it because of social distancing? I don’t know, but I find it hard to imagine that Asian countries can get better at it than we are. Wuhan, China, where this all started, has a population density of 15,000 people per square mile. Seoul, South Korea, is 42,000 per square mile. NYC is 28,000. Let’s just say we can’t trust any numbers out of China. However, we don’t have any reason to distrust Seoul, right? They had 158 deaths, and things are doing good there now. NYC just surpassed 1,000.
Anyway, I’m getting myself all skeptical about this stuff, especially concerning the residual cost all this lockdown will have on the globe in terms of economic and social loss. I’m seriously wondering if the medicine isn’t more harmful than the illness. But, who am I to say? I’m glad I’m not the one making all the decisions.
There isn’t a thing I can do about it anyway. That’s the bottom line for me. For all of us. We are simply swept up in the current and washed away like debris in a flash flood.
So, how do I keep hope? I’m the light of the world, right? And, so are you. How do we compete with horses when we are weary already?
For me, I can’t spend much more time on the headlines and numbers that what I need to stay informed. It’s OK for me to dig into this stuff in order to try make sense out of things, as much as I can, but it’s not OK to go so far as to sour my mood. How can I be of any benefit to anyone if I’m discouraged and stay that way?
No, I’m far better off in scripture, immersing myself in the Word of God and His promises. Take this nugget, for example:
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I need to keep good routines and not let myself slide into habits that will only serve to bring me down.
You know something that’s really good for me? Sharing the gospel.
Consider that for yourselves, my friends.
Father, keep me focused. Amen.
Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers