Philippians 4:11 – Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
My goal in writing this devotion is to reach out to Christian women who may be struggling in one or more areas with the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the uncertainty and stress that has come with it. Upon observation, it seems that most Christian women are in one of two positions. On one hand, many of us are alone with our families with very little fellowship or communication with our friends and loved ones, and very little opportunity to do what we enjoy. Our little “escapes” from daily stress have been taken away, and we are made to feel guilty for even leaving the house unless it is necessary. We are restless and overwhelmed from constant cooking, cleaning, homeschooling, loneliness, etc. This can be a dangerous place because we can become stuck “in our own heads.”
This is my advice to those who find themselves here: We do not need to love it, but we are commanded to redeem this time. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. We have been given the gift of time, and we will give an account for how we use it. Some of us must be forced to slow down, and we may never have this much time to invest in our relationships with the Lord and with our families ever again. Seize this moment because, as crazy as it sounds, as soon as we all get back to routine, we may find ourselves looking back and thinking, “I miss those quiet moments with my family.” Again, we do not need to love it or even feel guilty for the desire to get away from our families for a little while, but we still have an obligation to rule our spirits. We cannot let our families look back on all of the time they spent with us and remember a snappy, stressed-out mom or wife.
Secondly, there are many women who are either still working or whose husbands are working overtime, and it can be overwhelming in the opposite area. It just seems as if there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Without taking the time to explain the details, our family has experienced both sides, so I have been in both categories in the past month. I will say the “not-enough-hours-in-the-day” category is a little more inside of my comfort zone, but it can also be dangerous. The obligation still stands to redeem the time and rule my spirit. It is so easy to get stressed and overwhelmed when life is busy, but I must focus on all of the positives. More work most likely means more finances which means more opportunities for our family in the future. What this virus has taught me more than anything else is that everything in my life can change in an instant. Nothing is certain, so whatever state the Lord puts us in, we must be content.
I know there are so many more ladies out there who may not fit into either of these groups. I know there are single, elderly ladies who are lonely and are not able to have visitors. Financial stress for many may be overwhelming, possibly even to the point of looming bankruptcy. Wherever we are right now, let us just remember that this is only a season. Cling to Lamentations 3:22-23: It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Ladies, He sees each of us. His compassions will never ever fail us!
by Elizabeth Myers
