10 Things I Hope Never Go Back to Normal after COVID-19

The State September 14, 2020 0 Comments 10 Things I Hope Never Go Back to Normal after COVID-19, bible, CORONAVIRUS, Lori Hatcher, prayer

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9. A Return to Bible Reading and Prayer

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Pre-COVID-19, if you asked people what hindered them from spending quality and quantity time in Bible reading and prayer, you’d hear the word busyness a lot. For many, COVID-19-induced limitations have become an invitation to spiritual renewal.

Without a lengthy commute, they have time to linger with the Scriptures, start that Bible study they’ve always wanted to do, and pray for more than a minute or two.

With evenings free, online Bible studies have popped up everywhere as men and women “gather” to explore God’s Word. Several of my friends, experiencing the marital challenges that come from sheltering at home, committed to meet weekly over Zoom to do the Revive Our Hearts 30-Day Husbands Encouragement Challenge.

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media or television, many Christians have spent their extra time in God’s presence. I hope this never goes back to normal.

10. A Right Perspective of Ourselves

In pre-COVID-19 days, when we enjoyed health, wealth, and freedom, we felt powerful and independent. We were invincible. Buoyed by our successes, we felt in control and secure. When COVID-19 restricted our freedoms, threatened our health and wellbeing, and impacted our ability to earn and spend money, much of our self-sufficiency evaporated.

A profound sense of our own mortality sparked widespread fear. We learned, some for the first time, that we are not the master of our own destiny. A greater Power rules the world.

This truth has been life-changing when paired with faith. Although we’ve taken prudent measures to keep ourselves and our families safe, we’ve refused to live in fear, knowing God alone holds the power of life and death.

Recognizing our impotence and His power, we’ve learned to pray for His protection, then do what He calls us to do despite potential danger. We’ve discovered God is our provider, not ourselves or our government, and we can trust Him.

“When we are weak,” Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 reminds us, “He is strong.” In the midst of the COVID-19 chaos, we’ve tapped into the peace that defies all understanding and discovered that the safest place to be is in the palm of God’s hand.

I hope this never goes back to normal.

Lori Hatcher is a pastor’s wife who lives delightfully close to her four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina. To fight spiritual boredom and provide a fresh resource for quiet times, she wrote Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible (Our Daily Bread Publishing). Her first book, Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women , received the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Lori’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God…Starving for Time. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).