What do you do when your activities, appointments, and commitments suddenly disappear?

In this episode of Grounded (a daily videocast by Revive Our Hearts), I share one life-changing thing that God is teaching me during this season of home quarantine.

It starts like this…

Imagine a father bringing his children to the playground. The kids dart off to play on the jungle gym, the monkey bars, and the swings. For a while, the kids are completely immersed in their imaginary world. They climb, swing, work, and create. Dad watches them with a smile on his face.

Then imagine that the playground equipment suddenly disappears.

Poof! It’s gone.

The kids look around, wondering what just happened. Is there anything left for them to do? What will occupy them now that the jungle gym is gone? What will bring them joy now that the swings are gone? They feel disoriented.

Just when their heart rates begin to rise and their faces pale, they turn and see their dad. Instantly, they snap back to reality, remembering that they are part of a much bigger world than the playground – they are part of his world. They run to him, remembering who they are and whose they are. Such relief.

Their relationship with their father defines and steadies them. They are his kids. Their joy in his presence is far deeper than their joy on the playground. With him, all is well. 

I am like those kids. I didn’t realize how distracted I was with accomplishments, relationships, and activities. But now, poof! It’s all gone. I’ve felt disoriented without the scaffolding of a full schedule and I’ve been asking the deep existential questions of:

WHO AM I?
WHAT MAKES ME VALUABLE?
WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE?

Just when my heart rate begins to rise in panic, I turn and see our Heavenly Father standing there, our very present help, the lover of our souls, the one who knit us together, and is acquainted with all our ways.

He is with me. He is with you.

During this season of home quarantine, I’m coming back to the heart of worship, remembering that I am created for God and that is enough. This has been a beautiful, sobering, messy, wonderful time of catching my breath and rediscovering the unshakeable peace of being God’s child. 

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish, you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”  Psalm 73: 23-28

Be sure to tune in to this episode of Grounded to hear the rest of the conversation.

When you have a minute, drop a note to say “hello”? I’d love to hear from you. 🙂