Lessons From Lockdown

What have you learned during this lock down time?
I have been thinking about these things...

1) Life can change very quickly
A few months back I never would have guessed that I would have to homeschool. Although it's not a permanent change, it's a reminder of how quick things can change. Even things we thought would never happen can suddenly happen. We need to appreciate what we have and not take things for granted.

2)Don't count on the future
The Bible says, Don't boast about tomorrow because we don't know what will happen. We need to keep in mind that none of our plans are definite and everything we have on this earth is only temporary. We can't trust in money, jobs, possessions, people or our health etc. They can be gone in an instant. We need to trust in God, because He knows what's around the corner. And He can't be taken away from us.

3)We don't need to worry about the future
There is nothing that can happen to us that God doesn't already know about. And whatever does happen, God will be right there helping us through. Often the things we fear never happen. And if they do, God will give us grace and help at the time.

4)Always be ready for death
Hearing about the virus is scary when you know that it can be fatal. And yet there are many people who have died during this time who didn't have the virus. They might have thought they were safe because they didn't have the virus. We can die at any moment, so we need to be prepared all the time.

5) Without change, we would never learn or do some things
My sister sent me a song and it had words with this idea "God isn't trying to make us cry. He's teaching us how to fly." It had the example of a mother bird teaching her babies how to fly. There are things I've done over lockdown that I wouldn't have done if life had been normal. We all have our own trials, but without those trials, we would miss out on so much learning and growing. Change can force us to learn new skills and lessons.

6) What matters is what God thinks of us
(This is not related to lockdown, but it is a lesson I am learning.) I like to please people, but it's not always possible to please people and God. We need to value what God thinks of us more highly than what others think of us.

7) Have courage to do what God wants you to do
We have an enemy who wants to keep us inactive and of no use to anyone. He has different strategies to try to stop us. For me it's usually discouragement and self doubt. We need to find our encouragement in God and keep going in spite of the challenges. 

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9