It finally happened - we got COVID.
What if? That has been the one thing people have asked forever and certainly this year. There’s something about that question that can be paralyzing.
People have constantly asked us how to “fluff it” sometimes out of accusation, of what happens if you get Covid? And our response was we’re not gonna stop living, not gonna stop reaching out, we’re not gonna stop meeting people’s needs, spiritual needs just because of that question.
“What about now Jon? You’re in the hospital! Now you know. Now you see. Now you know why people are afraid!”
My response is this: I have been honored to be here because there are so many nurses that have gone through such a hellish valley of the shadow of death, who have seen so much and need healing, and God has called me to reach out to them.
They say to me, “You bring such peace to this floor; we needed this! You’re so nice. With most patients we see that’s not the case.” My response, “That is understandable because there is so much unknown in what people are facing, but I’m here for a different reason.” And we talk and we pray and they pray for me, like you have. God continues to make Romans 8:28-29 real even and especially through COVID which says:
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
What’s your WHAT IF? It doesn’t have to be COVID. What are your fears? Is it not enough time, not enough sleep, not enough life? Not enough purpose? What if we don’t leave our mark, what if our dash on this earth doesn't matter?
l read an article and watched a video on this phenomena that behavioral engineers use especially on FB to manipulate a gambling addict response. Though you may get 1000 likes for your puppy photo, they leak them to you periodically so that you’re in constant question of WHAT IF someone new, old, close, distant, attractive, connected liked my stuff? How many now, and now and now and tomorrow and maybe a new notification sends me back a month later.
Toss it! The system has you by the throat - they’re professionals- they do this for a living - manipulation is their career.
Yeah, so what?
Your friend like that in high school had the same tactic - you called her/him your enemy or frenemy!
You finally ran like hell when you realized your life was being stolen from you.
But today we tolerate, accept and even contribute to the beast. Don’t let your What if keep you in bondage.
I personally could care less about Facebook, but I do care about your WHAT IF?
The article (title unknown) I read was such an encouraging response to how to live differently; dare I say Biblically, dare I say wholesomely.
Live every day, extraordinarily, in the Life of Jesus Christ! He knows what to do with your What if.