Have you, like me, found yourself wondering what will life be like once the pandemic ends? Will people be afraid to get together? Shake hands? Stand closer than six feet apart? What will the not-so-distant future look like? Questions like this just circle round and round in my mind, putting me on the proverbial squeaky hamster wheel getting me nowhere. Can you relate?
My youngest daughter is a senior in high school. This is not only her last year with her friends in school but also in her dance company that she’s been with since she was eight years old. A time when she should be laughing with them, making special forever memories, has been stolen from her. Time she will never get back. Senior prom. Graduation. Honors Drama performances. Recital. The Spring production her dance troupe had been rehearsing for prior to quarantine. Will any of this even happen now? And I know there are so very many stories out there just like hers. My heart aches for all the kids that are missing out on these special events in their lives. How can I make it all better as moms tend to want to do? The truth is, I can’t make this better. I can’t give back what is lost.
So, I question what will the future bring for her, for us, for family and friends? And I wonder, how can I even begin to have the strength to face what I don’t know is to come? It’s one thing to know what’s coming, I can brace myself, prepare myself and pray specifically for that. But to not know? Just thinking about all the endless possibilities of what may or may not happen is exhausting! That’s when God reins in my thoughts, slowing me down and gently reminds me that He provides me strength for today. Just as He provided manna on a day-to-day basis, as they needed it, to the Israelites as they journeyed out of Egypt headed to the promised land. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.’ “ Exodus 16:4a (NIV). Enough provision for today.
Certainly we are facing extreme circumstances globally. And undoubtedly we’re all looking forward to a future when Coronavirus is a memory and we can gather with friends again, go to the mall, to the beach, park, or even school or work! And it’s so, so good to look forward to doing these things! Have a goal. Have a plan. It is in this we find hope and we all desperately need something to hope for, to look forward to! But when it comes to allowing worry about the future to dominate our thoughts, we find in Scripture, Jesus telling us this: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV). Enough for today.
Dwelling on the truth of that scripture, triggers an awareness of my tumultuous thoughts straying into the unknown future, and I have to intentionally curtail them. As I do, strength is generously given like a daily dose of medicine. Just the right prescription, at the just the right time and just enough for today!
Focus your energy on today. Find a reason to be thankful today. Be intentional about seeking a moment to treasure today. And receive your strength for today.
Be encouraged and do not lose heart remembering these words that the Apostle Paul penned, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
For more inspirational reading, check out these past blogs!
Moments To Treasure 