What Can We Gain From This Time? Series

What Can We Gain From This Time?

Series: Rerouting: Navigating a Changing World

August 23, 2020 – Brad Bailey

Intro

Well...good morning to each of you who have joined our gathering this morning... and welcome to each of you who may be watching at a later time.

We’re continuing our weekly series and focus entitled Rerouting: Navigating a Changing World. It’s based on seeing how this season of life can be a bit like when we use a map application... ... like Google maps and it needs to reset course...something in the route changes...and we see the word: “rerouting.” This can capture this season in life because in a similar way we were moving along in life...and then a pandemic brought change. Changes to our path. Change to our patterns. Changes to our plans.

As we come to this point in living through a pandemic effected season of life ...I want to express what is more than obvious. This is a strange time. There may be a lot of talk about a “new normal”...but I don’t think the current season reflects anything that is normal. And as we come to this point in the strange season...I want to simply acknowledge a challenge that we may do well to face together...that we will be in this strange time LONGER than many initially could have imagined. Every reasonable expectation is that the major restrictions to life may ebb and flow in the months ahead ...but the point of living without substantial risks won’t come for another six to nine months. That is a very possible and challenging reality. We may begin to enjoy some positive steps that bring back some normalcy...but we will likely feel the overall sense of what is unnatural and unsettled for a while. It means that a significant season of school and related activities... will lack a lot of the normal elements and experience. It means businesses and work roles may be in a tentative state for many people. It means that even if we have some forms of gathering in-person as a church ... it will likely be a while until we enjoy any large social events with the normal freedom to relate without risk.

My purpose in acknowledging that some significant restrictions may extend for another 6 to 9 months...is not to bring you down...but actually to build you up. To prepare us well. Sometimes the best way to confront a challenge begins with daring to face it...to face for what it may be.

I know that when I stop to consider another 6 to 9 months... it hits me hard... but it also allows me to stop avoiding what may otherwise just linger vaguely over me... and the looming effect can have a subtle control over me

When I step back far enough to see that there may be an extended season of living in the temporarily strange time...I find I can step back even further and see that God is even bigger. I can see God’s purposes and provisions are here in the midst of this very season.

So I want to take this moment to say what some of us may need to hear: We will get through this.

And I want to encourage all not to lose heart by accepting this as “the new normal.” Social distancing is not normal. The halt on so many primary pursuits and activities is not normal. Don’t let your spirit accept this as the new normal that will last forever. It won’t.

What I believe God wants us to stop and consider at this juncture...is what we can gain from this season. There’s no doubt that there are qualities that have come during this season. Just ask my dog. Actually countless dogs have loved having their masters home...and getting walked like never before.

But there is more... far more to consider. The question I believe God wants to challenge us with today is... are we going to grow through this? Will we become better people...more Christ-like in our nature?

The truth is that there is always a good which God can work in all circumstances. As the Scriptures tell us:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:28-29 ?

In these words... we are reminded that God works good in all things. It’s vital to know that God is able to work good even from what is not inherently good. A new virus and the effects it brings is not good in itself. The losses are not good in themselves... but God is at work in all who receive the life of Christ. And he will use everything as an opportunity to me to become more like Christ. All of those qualities that I have yet to have developed... those fruits of the Spirit... the love, joy, peace, patience, self-control.