Being Content During a Pandemic

Sometimes, I have a disconnect when reading Scripture, because I haven't experienced the persecution of the early church or even the lack of resources that they faced. 

Tonight I'm musing on Paul's words to the Philippians about contentment in a variety of situations.

"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for 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 4:10‭-‬13 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/php.4.10-13.NIV

If I'm honest, I've only experienced the highs (and avoided all of the lows) Paul writes about here. I have had plenty and have been well fed. I haven't experienced the need and hunger that is the norm for many around the world and in our country today. 

Yet, as workplaces close and shelves empty, I ponder how to be content during a pandemic. The secret to contentment is not in how much I have or can hoard. The secret lies in knowing and following Christ. 

As I follow Him, He does lead through dangerous areas, like the Path of Generosity, which calls us to share with the needy while the world urges us to hoard away. 

He takes me along the Stream of Compassion, which can understand why the grocery store worker is frustrated at a parent bringing their kids to the store AND how that single parent can't just leave them at home.

He brings me an Inventory of Blessing which reminds me of all the books, games, crafts, methods of contact, projects, and food that I have at home. 

He guides me through the Cave of Promises which whispers that He is with me and He is the God who provides. 

He takes me to the Overlook of Joy where I can see afresh all the blessings that I have in my life.

And as I travel with Christ, counting my blessings instead of my fears, I realize that contentment is not gained through ideal circumstances, but through knowing God is with us whatever may come. 

And as we realize how richly blessed we are, we are moved to look out beyond ourselves and our loved ones to offer hope to a world that is hopeless. We can offer this, along with food and other resources, because we serve a God who does provide.

So be kind to our grocery store workers.

Buy what we need, but not too much.

Look for ways to share with others (and be open enough to share our needs when we have them)

Take this time to draw closer to God.

And be content, no matter what tomorrow brings. 

Praying with Those Suffering

I once told my small group, when people were hesitant to pray out loud, "It's alright! There's no bad prayers!" My group purposely started praying prayers that proved my statement wrong. We can pray selfish prayers, materialistic prayers, hateful prayers, and so on. We can pray poor, unbiblical prayers.

Yet, just because a prayer is in the Bible doesn't mean that it is a good prayer to pray. There are examples of poor prayers in the Bible. It is possible to find "unbiblical" or "un-Christ-like" prayers within the pages of our Bibles.

The Bible does contain positive examples we would be benefited by emulating and commands that we are to obey. Other parts of the Bible have negative examples of things that happened, but should not have happened. There are lessons to be learned in what NOT to do.

In the Church, we sometimes hear prayers that should bother us. One such example, is to praise/thank God that we aren't suffering/persecuted like others mentioned in other prayer requests. A related prayer on a similar theme is to say, "I watch the news and I thank God that I live here."
Now, these kinds of prayers are technically in the Bible, but they are given as an example of what not to do. I'm talking about the Pharisee's prayer in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee stood before God thanking Him that he wasn't like other people; whereas the tax collector asked for mercy, because he knew that he was a sinner.

These prayers break my heart, because in the moment I hear someone praying them, I do not see Christ's reflection in them. This is not to say that I'm doubting if someone is a Christian, but rather, that specific prayer is not Christ-like.

When we thank God that we were spared from a disaster and cite that sparing as evidence of His love for us, we need to ask ourselves what our prayers are indirectly implying about those who are suffering through the disaster. Maybe, we were spared from a disaster, so we could be SERVING and HELPING those who are suffering. That is living out Christ-like compassion.

You can be thankful you are happy with the nation in which you were born, but as soon as you connect your birthplace with a sign of God's favor, what does that imply about people living under corrupt regimes or in the midst of war? It implies that they are out of God's favor, which the Bible does not support.

If our prayers end with us just being thankful that we live in <place> or aren't suffering through <disaster>, than our prayers are too small. We SHOULD be praying for those who are suffering, as though we ourselves are suffering alongside them. We SHOULD find ways to serve and help those in the midst of disasters, because that is one of the main reasons we exist on this earth:
Reason 1. Glorify God.
Reason 2. Spread the Good News.
Reason 3. Help those who are suffering on the margins of society

We are clearly told throughout the New Testament to remember those in prison as though we were suffering with them. (see Hebrews 10:34 and Hebrews 13:3).

We are told to thank God for the good in our lives, but we are not told to thank Him that we aren't the ones suffering. We, as Christ-followers, are to expect to suffer. (see the book of Acts, Romans 5, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12:26, 2 Corinthians 1, Philippians 1, 2 Timothy 1-2, 1 Peter 2-4 for starters).

So let us pray for those who are suffering. Let us pray that we show compassion and mercy to those who are suffering. When we stretch our prayers in this way, we may discover that God uses these kinds of prayer to grow us and to draw us closer to Him.