As colder weather creeps in and threatens the world with another bout of the flu and viruses, there’s an ominous feeling that solitude will set in. We often forget that we are products of our environment and if those environments are steeped in loneliness, we begin to forget our purpose. God, in His infinite wisdom, created community for our health, for the sake of our wholeness. Even introverts can’t stand to be alone all the time. What will we do with our time? What are the challenges we will face? With the ebbs and flows of Covid19 upending life as we know it, we must be planted in our purpose.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
For some, this upcoming season will be more of the same; depression, sadness, and perpetual melancholy. God promises that there is joy in His presence. He even goes as far as to guarantee His attendance; two or more gathered in His name, that’s where He shows up. For some, this upcoming season will be the perfect opportunity to slow down, be still, and listen to the voice of God concerning their purpose. It’s no wonder TikTok has billions of users displaying their talent, when the world slows down people begin to see themselves more clearly.
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14
This pandemic has brought the worse out of humanity, with renewed segregation over vaccine mandates and double masks but, it has also renewed humanity’s faith in God. When we see the fragility of our existence, how one virus can define our income, marital status, and children’s safety, it confirms one resounding fact; WE NEED GOD! Throughout history we’ve witnessed the fruit we bear during and after calamity. When famine, plagues, and genocide threaten our existence, we see how God mercifully reminds us of His love and of our purpose.
“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Matthew 25:29
Suicide survivors, cancer patients in remission, and ex-prisoners may understand better than others how wonderful life is, how precious it is to be alive. No one wants to have to go through near death experiences to understand the value of life and yet, at times, it’s what it takes for a complete turnaround. Self-made millionaires understand the value of time, every minute accounted for, every relationship synergistic. A new mother understands the value of their health when their bodies were made to feed their babies. As Kingdom citizens we know this to be true, that our King will return and it’s crucial that He finds us with our hands to the plow.
What we’ve been through these past years is a very loud wake up call to our purpose. Wastefulness will only result in our demise. It’s more than trying a new hobby or turning our lives into a guessing game. We must submit ourselves to the will of our Father, know who we are in Him, and get to work! We are planted in times such as these to be used for our King’s purpose. It’s time to find out why!