The day COVID-19 shut life down became my best day of 2020. But it sure didn’t feel like it in the moment.
We silently gathered for a hushed emergency faculty meeting: “Prepare for an imminent, sudden shut down.” I walked down the hall, swallowing tears, to bravely face a class of anxious, tearful, angry college seniors who had heard rumors and had never experienced such horrific shock. Together, we grieved; music, singing, and learning in person might cease. We all felt unspoken weight: comfortable life as we know it might cease. After preemptive goodbye hugs, it came true in the next hour.
By God’s grace-filled plan, my husband of 33 years had just arrived. We had planned a delightful weekend of fun! Working four hours apart was hard, but “dating” each other on weekends had become a gift of renewed joy. This visit turned into God’s providential care for my emotional and physical needs in the unexpected. He helped me pack boxes and bags and hastily moved me back home. In my numbed crisis-mode of efficiency, we grabbed extra food on the way and, yes…toilet paper.
A cloud of invisible toxins with fear of an unknown future threatened the earth and its inhabitants. On that day, we humbly realized we have no control.
How could this be my best day of 2020?
Immeasurable Peace Through God’s Word
By His providence, my daily Bible reading that very morning had taken me to Mark 4:35-41. The panicked disciples shook Jesus awake as it appeared the sudden storm would kill them all.
“Do you not care that we are perishing?” (v. 38 ESV).
As I drove home in tears, Jesus gently questioned me too:
“Why are you so afraid?” (v. 40 ESV).
Do I trust who You are, Jesus?
The wind and the sea calmed by His commanding word (Mark 4:39-41). Storms submit to the power and authority of the One who wisely and lovingly controls all things (Job 38-41), holds all things together (Col. 1:17), and holds up the universe “by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3a ESV).
Immeasurable peace flooded my heart as He reminded me of His sovereign control over storms in the universe He created and powerfully sustains.
Immeasurable Peace Through Praise in Song
As He proclaimed His authority over all creation, I burst into a peace-filled praise interruption, joining with His creation!
Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness.
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, three in one,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
All Creatures of our God and King (St. Francis of Assisi, 1225)
The worst-best day of 2020
Perhaps what emotionally felt like my worst day became my best day of 2020 because He reminded me that Jesus is controlling the storms of 2020. As we release our need for control and surrender into His, He frees and comforts us. Anchoring our trust in Jesus Christ, comforted by His Word, we can sing praise to Him for His power-full reign in any storm.
Alleluia!
Lord of heaven and earth, help us to trust what You are doing through the storms and our suffering. Calm us and bring us immeasurable peace through Your Word. By Your grace, help us to see Your sovereign reign and providential care for us. Help us to cast our cares on You and praise You, rejoicing that You are in control of all storms. In Jesus’ reigning name, amen.
Dear reader, I am praying for His work in each of our hearts as we face the storms of 2020. Please share this blog with anyone who is struggling right now.
I professionally craft weekly YouTube playlists with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of various genres. I would love to email them to you, along with weekly blog posts. They all fit together by theme! Each playlist is designed for you to sing aloud to Him with lyrics, glorifying Him and enjoying Him as you also experience His peace. I pray we are all comforted, built up, and encouraged by truths of His Word.
Just sign up here and it will all arrive to your email!
2 Comments
Joleen · September 9, 2020 at 7:30 pm
What a beautiful way to share this day in your life at the start of the 2020 storm, covid. Beautifully written and honors God so well. I’m touched. Thank you Lauri. Am I receiving your play list too? I’d like to be. Thank you ❤️👍
Lauri Hogle · September 9, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Hi Joleen! I’m so humbled and touched by your words. Yes! Playlists will come to your email Tuesday evenings, matching the theme of the weekly devotional. I can’t wait to send them to you! ❤️🙏🏼🎶🙌🏼
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