We are living in a crazy and interesting time. Because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the risk of infection, most people around the world are quarantining themselves in their homes.  Millions of Americans have filed for unemployment because of the hit the economy has taken, borders between states and countries are closed, and stores are selling out of basic necessities like toilet paper and bread.  What makes these circumstances so interesting, is we’ve never faced anything like this. 

Most of us are no stranger to hard times.  We’ve lived through hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters.  We’ve been laid off or fired, and we know financial hardship.  We’ve seen people buy out batteries, water, and bread when a snow storm is on its way.  Natural disasters, financial crises, and even illnesses are nothing new. 

What is new is the infection and death rate we are seeing climb daily.  The fact that politicians are issuing shelter in place and stay home orders makes this a very unique situation.  In my lifetime, I have never seen schools worldwide close for anything like this.  Or for anything, actually.  Churches have closed their buildings and are operating via livestream and their social media platforms.  Most people have nowhere to go and are only interacting with a small number of people face to face on a regular basis.  All of these precautions are in place for a reason and my family and I know how lucky we are to have shelter, food, entertainment, and medical coverage in a time like this.  It is hard for me to even imagine how much more difficult our situation would be if we were not so fortunate. 

Even as we are aware of the abundance which surrounds us, this is a hard time for those who struggle with their mental health, and for the first time, maybe, those who don’t typically struggle with their mental health.  To the former: I see you and I’m here.  And to the latter: it’s okay.  You are allowed to feel the way you do, it does not mean that you are broken. 

The entirety of 2019 felt like quarantine to me.  First it was illness and snow upon snow upon snow.  We moved to northern Japan in January 2019, and five days later I found out I was pregnant.  Instantly the sickness arrived and I spent most of my days either in the urgent care center receiving fluids, inpatient receiving a higher level of care, or at home in bed.  The illness never truly let up and even when I did make it out of the house, my coat pockets were stuffed with barf bags just in case.  After a medical evacuation and a complicated delivery, my son spent 6 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.  This time it was my baby who was quarantined, but being in a country separate from my home, family, and friends definitely left me feeling lonely. 

Needless to say, it was a dark, painful, and lonely year.  I felt simultaneously forgotten by many people I loved and completely overwhelmed by the amount of messages and support I received.  There were days I felt so grateful for the wonderful resources we had access to and then there were days all I did was cry because we were not in a place I ever desired to be.  I can imagine that this must be how a lot of us are feeling today.

I went through a lot of emotions during 2019, and I have found myself in a similar cycle this year.  It’s hard to know what to believe.  I find myself constantly stuck between being skeptical with the media and knowing that this is something to take very seriously.  When life is confusing, it is more important than ever to cultivate our faith.  We must remember that the very same God who led his people out of slavery in Egypt and allowed His own son to be put to death for our sake, is with us today. 

This world is not *it* for us.  And thank you, thank you, thank you, Jesus, for that.

For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name.
Declare the greatness of our God!
The Rock—His work is perfect;
all His ways are entirely just.
A faithful God, without prejudice,
He is righteous and true.

Deuteronomy 32: 3-4