By “In God We Trust” are the words on the smallest piece of currency in the United States. The penny. What better time than now in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic to reflect on trusting in God?
This Holy Week and Easter season are different in every way for everybody. What better time than now to reflect on trusting God and the blessings He provides to us? Even now, when our world is “put on hold”. Easter is truly about new life and we are now given a chance for a new life this Easter season.
The next two weeks, in the coronavirus pandemic, are predicted to be the peak of the numbers, which the media are focusing on. The highest number of reported cases and the highest number of deaths.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Many of us may not see the blessings of this pandemic every day. But when the pandemic is over, there will be many blessings. God is with us when we are reluctant and God is with us when we are thankful.
I am fairly certain, no one would wish to experience the impact of the coronavirus on their daily lives. As with my daughter’s battle with Lyme disease, no one would want to suffer the disease. And certainly no one would want to have their child to suffer as she suffered. We are reluctant to be put into a battle and during the battle we may remain reluctant to trust God.
However, trusting God in the hard times, struggles, diseases, and battles is where He meets you the closest. I knew during my daughter’s illness, there must be a reason that she was the one impacted with complete memory loss, a rare effect of the infections. I also knew there was a reason for me to be her mother. I felt it must be because I was a nurse and would be able to persevere to have her diagnosed and treated. My nursing skills were certainly used especially in being persistent in getting an accurate diagnosis; in not accepting a recommendation for her to return to school because she was getting what she wanted by staying home; in administering IV antibiotics; in recognizing her grave condition; and in being her advocate.
But I was so scared. I was so vulnerable with each day. I was even anxious administering her IV antibiotics which I had done thousands of time prior to so many patients. Surely, the call to be my daughter’s mother during this illness was full of anxious moments. I prayed and knew there was an even bigger reason.
Although I was scared and anxious, I did trust God. I trusted Him and totally surrendered my daughter to her on the fateful day as she slipped in and out of life.
When the storm ends, we feel the blessings of God. The relief. Possibly a miracle. The miracle of healing my daughter secured my trust in God during this disease. Then, I felt the reason I was my daughter’s mother was very likely to share our story. I hesitated, even though I have been to graduate school, to write about our journey. I hesitated to be an advocate for Lyme disease. But with God’s grace, I was able to write and publish our journey as LymeLight. I am also blessed to be an advocate for many people struggling with obtaining an accurate diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease. God’s blessings from my daughter’s illness are still multiplying. I believe the journey was meant to be full of blessings and full of opportunities to bless others.
May each of us see and trust God now, during this pandemic. Showing our faith helps others to either build their faith or to come to faith and to know Jesus. Could there be a better Holy Week present than to help others with their faith? Isn’t that why Jesus died for us and was resurrected? Living and trusting God right now is an Easter blessing.
