I just read an article in the newspaper that said two-thirds of Americans who believe in God feel that God wants us to learn from this virus and change our ways. Shouldn’t we be looking for deeper meanings in every critical situation we find ourselves in? Shouldn’t the sanctity of life be more important than the almighty dollar? Shouldn’t all Americans be finding their own ways to become more loving, caring, and understanding about each other instead of only caring about ourselves?
The truth of the matter is the world wasn’t ready for a tiny bug that brought us to our knees. It doesn’t matter where it came from; it’s here and now we must work together to stop it from killing all of us. Why are minorities being hit so much harder with this virus? Why are the elderly and people with underlying conditions being attacked? It was thought that children were not affected by COVID-19, but now it’s showing up as a secondary illness. No one realized how severe our economies would be decimated and how many families would be going hungry for the first time in their lives. America was already headed down a slippery slope with mental health issues before this happened. It’s no wonder people with these issues hid for a while until they decided to bring assault rifles to protest gatherings. Let’s not forget how valiantly our medical personnel fought this disease without proper protection, and still, they went home to their families, knowing that they could infect their own families. In addition to all of these conditions, the political divides of our nation continue to rear their ugly heads, keeping Americans confused and scared about what things really could help prevent them from getting this devastating disease.
Even though most churches across our country have been closed for safety concerns, people are still trying to worship together via on-line services. They still hope and pray, perhaps more than at any time in their lives, that God is here. I believe that even non-believers are slowly realizing we can’t control everything ourselves. A higher power is watching over us, and yes, wanting us to take care of each other more.
We must change; it shouldn’t take a crisis like this for humanity to realize we’ve become complacent with what God has given us. More people have moved away from believing in God than have given their hearts to Him. We want more, not less. We want God’s grace, forgiveness, and love without giving Him our gratitude and praise. We have become a secular world where money is more important than our hearts. We fight among ourselves for things, not grace and understanding. We stand behind the work of one person instead of joining together to help one another. We’ve exploited our world’s natural resources until they are slowly disappearing. Because of our selfish desires as individuals and as nations, the world as we know it has to change, with or without our approval.
“Be not afraid, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 46:10) I believe that God is here in this crisis, not as an enemy, but as a watcher, a listener, a loving Father. I believe for everyone He takes home, a child was born and died for our sins. His name is Jesus Christ, who walks beside me everyday, saying, “Be still and know that I am.” (Psalm 46:10) God’s blessings rest on this world and all who dwell therein. May all who walk the earth be blessed with an abundant life.
Change…we must for our lives depend on it. Believe… we will for God gave us His Son so that we will have eternal life. Take Christ’s hand and know a love so strong that the smallest of viruses will be overcome. Our world, His creation, will be made anew, not because of one person’s caring but because we all cared to make the world a better place. For that blessing, He is here, watching and listening as our loving Father.
Anna Hartt
