So as I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write about, I thought about what people may be struggling with the most through this trying time. It occurred to me that being cooped up at home with a much narrower variety of things to do puts us all in positions of vulnerability. If we’re being honest with ourselves we don’t like idle time, and it’s in these times that we could be in our weakest states.

 

I was shown by a friend that a porn site was going to be giving everyone quarantined in Italy a free premium subscription. It hurt my heart to see that this “charitable act” was really just a ploy to hit these people while they’re already down, at their most vulnerable. 

 

Also, human beings need interactions face-to-face, in person. Without it, it’s easy to become someone else, someone different, less empathetic, even mean. When we only communicate through screens, the level of empathy has the potential to go down because with our idle time, alone, by ourselves with nothing else to do, we can lose a sense of appreciation for other people. 

 

So we need strength, resilience, perseverance, and a whole lotta love. We need to lean on the Lord even in our failures, and learn not to fall into temptations that are laid before our feet, whatever they may be, or when we become loose with our tongues when we aren’t around others as much and say something we didn’t mean. 

 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalms 73:26 NIV)

 

How strange yet wonderful it is that our greatest strength is found not in our works, but rather our submission to the Lord to allow Him to work. 

 

Is He the strength of your heart during this pandemic? Is His portion the only one you believe you need? I know I’ve struggled much with this over this time, and I’ll be the first to admit it, but though our hearts and flesh may fail, He will not. :)