About two weeks ago I was running in the Gate River Run. I wanted to post pictures, but do you remember that meme with the ridiculously photogenic guy? That wasn’t me. I was in pain, and the pictures hide nothing of what I was feeling.
During that time, I knew COVID-19 was a thing, but it felt like something far away. I thought that everyone was overreacting. “Didn’t we go through this with SARS? Ebola? H1N1?” (I’m not saying there hasn’t been any overreacting to this. People are panic buying weird things.) However, after seeing everything that’s happened in Italy and other European countries, as well as watching the numbers in our own country tick up and up, I realized this was nothing to laugh about.
Two weeks ago I was running the River Run, the largest 15K in the country, and today I feel like I live in a different world. History has taken a turn, and history does not use a turn signal.
In many ways, it feels like the world has flown off its hinges and what we thought was secure has turned to sand beneath our feet as we grasp for something to hold us up.
But all of this isn’t new. “Unprecedented” has been thrown around a lot lately. However, if I were thinking of words to describe a pandemic, “unprecedented” would not be one of them. This isn’t the first time this has happened, and it won’t be the last.
It’s a bit terrifying to be reminded of our own mortality and the fragility of our societies. We live in a world that is constantly changing, but even if it feels like the steady, secure world around us has turned to shifting sands, I believe there is still security and hope to be found.
Jesus said that the wise man builds his house upon the rock so that when the rains come, the things he has built will stand while the foolish man will lose all he has because his life was build on sand that washes away. Jesus told us that in this world we will have trials and tribulations, but we shouldn’t be afraid because he has overcome the world.
He doesn’t guarantee safety. He doesn’t guarantee wealth. He doesn’t guarantee health. He doesn’t even guarantee we will all live through this. But what he has given us is the assurance that even in the face of financial instability, sickness, and even death, we don’t have to be afraid.
Jesus walked into the grave before us, and then he walked back out.
Christian, you will overcome. This is no surprise to God. God knows what this world is like, and that is why Jesus came in the first place.
One day the world will be renewed, and until then, we can joyfully endure whatever comes our way knowing that Christ has already overcome it all.
Andrew Thomasson 
My wife and I are both in our mid fifties, and both work inside a hospital. We’re currently in a week’s holiday but will be back to work Monday (two days from now). Three kids depend on us, plus a nephew who lives with us. We are well aware we may be in for it, even dearh. Your post was needed refreshment.
I’m glad my post encouraged you. I’ll be praying for you and your wife through this time too! It’s a weird time, and the whole world has been put on edge, it seems.
“History has taken a turn, and history does not use a turn signal.” Excellent writing. And I love that pic!!
So many need hope right now, we all have fear, but fear with hope is far different than fear without it.
I’m glad you like the pic! Me too! Too bad I didn’t take it, haha. I used to always only use my own pictures, but now I use stock photos often because they’re usually better than mine. And yes, there is so much uncertainty right now. It’s scary. It’s an opportunity for us to find hope in lasting things.