by Pastor Doug Pratt
In times of stability (remember those?) when our environment and personal lives are fairly predictable, we naturally develop habits and patterns and routines that keep us balanced. I suspect that we have all been through periods when we were essentially on “autopilot.” Everything today is as it was yesterday. We make plans and have little doubt that it is within our power and control to carry out those plans. Routine predictability can potentially lead to boredom but has great comforts.
Then come the disruptive times when things are not as they were, but in turmoil and change. These experiences are much more stressful for us to deal with. Boredom is not a danger in times of disruption. Just the opposite, we find ourselves wishing for a return to the stability of our old ways.
In the great coronavirus epidemic of 2020, every American without exception has been impacted in some way. And for many of us, the very foundations of our lives have been shaken. The fortunate few may have been able to self-quarantine for weeks or months without inner stress or significant lifestyle alterations. But for most—including nearly every working person and every family with children of school age in the home and every student and teacher and every healthcare professional and every athlete and every politician and every business owner—the virus threat has brought rapid and dramatic disruptions.
As Christians react to the new and unfamiliar circumstances forced upon us, we are reminded of the spiritual virtues that are most necessary in challenging times. Those of special prominence are: Compassion (the sacrificial work of doctors, nurses, and first responders); Patience (the ability to wait as long as needed for normalcy to return); Courage (to do what is required, even at personal risk); Generosity (to share with others out of our abundance); and Faith (to trust God’s presence is with us always). Each virtue is important. When we live these qualities, we demonstrate to the world that the Holy Spirit is within us.
One additional virtue especially important in disruptive times is Resilience. It is not often listed in a compilation of the great virtues identified in Scripture but I believe it should be. The great example of resilience in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. As he carried out his ministry of sharing the good news of Christ, he often found himself in unpredictable and troublesome situations. Listen to his own words of testimony in his letter to friends in the city of Philippi:
… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).
In many conversations and emails over the past four months, members of our church have shared with me the changes and adaptations made in response to their new circumstances. I am so encouraged by the way, through their confidence in the Lord, these men and women have proven their high resilience. Their testimonies, like Paul’s, reaffirm the assurance of Scripture that, through Christ, we can handle all challenges and face all obstacles, and make whatever changes are necessary.