Is it possible to redeem what the pandemic locusts have eaten?

 

The loss has been utterly profound for countless people. Words like cancelled, delayed, postponed, loss, laid off fill our minds and eat away at our joy. The pandemic locusts have devoured jobs, attending weddings and funerals, church gatherings, graduation day, hugs, seeing people, ease of grocery shopping and school. It has caused online classes and learning from home, alone via zoom chats, sadness, anxiety, loneliness and more. Motherhood has taken on a new challenge yet again. What is so difficult is that as a mom I can’t fix the bigger problems,

I have to choose to be hope-filled despite my inclination to lose hope.

Resilience is a powerful word that resonates with me as I begin to take back what the pandemic locusts have ruthlessly digested. When the locusts destroyed Israel’s crops they must have been devastated. Then we read in Joel 2:27 that God was in their midst,

” You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame. “

A promise of restoration for Israel and for us today. This however, will take time. We have to be patient as we navigate our days of quarantine. If I allow fear to dominate my mind, my kids will see that and it will likely rule them as well. I need to focus on what I can do. First, be in the Word daily and allow the truth that God wants me to read fill my mind so it will spill over into my home. Second, pray passionately for family, friends, neighbours and our world. Lastly, Serving in new and creative ways to bless others.

What has blessed me over and over and brought tears to my eyes are the ways moms are rising up to the challenge of quarantine parenting. We rally together in spirit and now, as restrictions are slowly being lifted, seeing others face to face while keeping our distance! The pandemic locusts have left their mark, but I refuse to let the loss swarm me with fear.

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble ” (Psalm 46:1).