It was a Tuesday afternoon. In a rare moment, I found myself sitting at our dining room table reflecting on the day: the recurrent nature of these new days was weighing heavy.

I was sifting through my thoughts: “Tomorrow is going to look a lot like today, as will the next day and the next...”

While things are slowly opening back up and we are collectively working towards a “new normal”, our days are still significantly altered to remain at home more than before.

The boredom and monotony rose up. I did not want to keep doing this.

“Lord, there has to be more than waking up, exercising, fixing meals, add in a little schoolwork, chores and free time to doing it all again the next day.”

“Lord, where is my purpose?”

…the “what matters?”

It’s missing in these COVID 19 days

…or is it?

You Are Not Alone

A couple days later, I was visiting with a few women from our home group. As we socially distanced and chatted, this subject came up.

“So, what are you filling your days with?” I asked, anxious to know if I was the only one wrestling with similar feelings. “What are you learning in this immense space of time as we are pulling back from “outside the home” activity?

“I’m learning to talk to myself” a friend started off. “It’s hard. The quiet and solitude that permeates despite having a house full of little ones.”

She continued, “I’m having to talk to myself about the truth of God’s Word: there is purpose in my day. He is strong when I am weak; He will provide what I need in these days. So I speak these truths over and over again in my mind. Tomorrow, when I wake up, I find myself needing to start up again.”

Her words, transparency and practical advice on how she was working through these days brought soul-level refreshment.

Varied Trials

Another friend shared of the emotional impact on her children. The repetitive solitude seemed to emerge deep fears. These fears were impacting all of them as they weathered many nights with both interrupted and decreased sleep.

“I am doing all I know to do,” she understandably and weariedly shared, “to read Scripture, to pray over and with my child. I am desperate for a breakthrough.”

Her eyes welled with tears as we asked, “How are you doing, walking all of this?”

“It’s hard. I’m discouraged and tired,” she transparently shared, “I want this to be behind us and yet it isn’t yet.”

And in her next breath, her words fell so deeply upon us.

“I’m learning to trust Jesus and His timing in a new way.”

The Beauty of Community

“I have come to realize the depths of which God has designed and called us to live in community” the last friend shared. “I easily took it for granted: the beauty and gift of it; my soul longs for it so. I am not sure I will ever look at it the same after this absence.”

As I sat there, drinking deeply of the wisdom each of these women imparted, my mind drifted back to that Tuesday afternoon at my dining room table.

“Lord, this is your answer to my wonderings! There is purpose, there is good in our days.”

Our Choice

Each morning, each wake up, I…we…have a choice.

Am I going to choose to believe the lie that my days are on repeat, without purpose, enjoyment or eternal significance?

OR

Will I stand firm upon the truths of Psalm 118:24 CSB “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.”

If the Lord has made this day (and He has) then I must believe there is great purpose in them, even on the days it might not feel like it.

Our church is reading through the Bible together chronologically this year. My daughter, Mollie, likes to remind me that I am five weeks behind. In my recent readings, I came upon these verses:

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” (Psalm 92:1-2 CSB)

The Redirect

I was so struck by the instruction and insight that filled these two verses. “Give thanks, sing praise”

But why?

Have you ever correlated how singing and giving thanks serves to redirect our thinking and in turn our outlook?

I had not given much consideration to this before.

These verses have served to both convict and encourage me to walk in these practices these past few weeks.

The second part….”To declare”.

Webster’s dictionary defines “declare” as “to state emphatically”. We are told “to declare” or “to remember” His faithful love in the morning.

Even if we have just finished pouring our heart out before the Lord in prayer and petitions, even if the answers are yet to come, we are encouraged to remember His great love.

A love that sent His only son to the cross; to bridge the gap between us and God, to cover the penalty of sin. A love that cost the ultimate price, the life of Jesus.

As I dwell on that depth of love shown, somehow my days and perspective slowly shifts and resets its gaze from myself to Jesus…where it should be all along.

The last part of those verses: “your faithfulness at night.” As we walk our day, laying our pleas, wants, desires, needs, requests, will, even “our surrender” at the cross of Jesus, we experience His faithfulness.

Maybe we do not get the answer we originally desired or in the way we would like it to turn out, but we can trust Him and His character.

As we pray for eyes to recognize His acts of faithfulness, I believe He will do this.

As we lay our needs before Him, allowing Him time to work, we will be able to declare His faithfulness in the night.

I am hopeful that you are doing well in these continued COVID 19 days. If you are experiencing any of these similar thoughts or feelings, I hope these truths will serve to anchor your heart and mind to the one who “holds our days” (Psalms 31:15). Blessings to you as you walk today, may we be challenged and encouraged to “give thanks, praise and declare” (Psalm 92:1-2 CSB) Walking with you! Blessings!

References:

Websters’s Dictionary

Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

are our days on repeat?