Recently, I have been wondering why God would have done this to us as a community. We try to serve Him to the best of our ability, yet He throws things our way that hinder our ability to do so. As a school we were starting to do so well, but then a road block comes, we get shut down and we lose an important member of our community, and we are given a finish line that seems to be moving every time we take a step.
But, then I take a step back and realize all of the good that has happened because of the ‘bad’. For example, when this school year began, we were told that off blocks and lunches would have to be spent in classrooms with teachers that would watch over us to make sure we were following the COVID protocols. We all hated this, and thought it would be the demise of us all. We wanted to revolt, to change the system to be in our favor. I am glad that our mini revolts didn’t change anything. Because we were told we needed to stay with certain people, friendship grew that otherwise wouldn’t have grown. I see the juniors and seniors all eating lunch together outside, fostering a community that will hopefully continue through the classes for years to come. I have seen teachers engaging with students like I never have before, and I have seen the administration listen to the students input more than previous years. Yes, sports, musicals, and off blocks may look different this year, but we were given something that other classes have never experienced before. We were given community that was encouraged to build each other up and rely on each other, which I think is absolutely beautiful.
I still struggle with everything that has been taken away from us. I wonder why God would allow such terrible things to happen to our community. But when I look on the past year and see the goodness that has come from it, I am hopeful that the trials today will become victories tomorrow.
How has God worked in your circle during the trials you face?
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by what we see.”
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I have a friend that was scared of COVID. His life changed overnight, and he lost many of the things he was used to doing, things that we all took for granted like eating at restaurants and visiting family and friends. He was in turmoil, with giant ups and downs emotionally. Then he got COVID. A lot of emotion with that. He said it is weird to eat chicken wings and not be able to taste them. But he has healed. He called me the other day, so excited. He was going to eat breakfast IN a restaurant for the first time in almost a year. How has God worked in my circle during these trials? I have seen pleasure in the mundane and courage in the simple. I have seen new life sprouting where the old has gone away. I have seen encouragement for others where there was only ever strife. And I have seen strength to fight evil like I have never seen when we just took life for granted.
Isn’t it so easy for us to jump right in to all we have lost and struggled with this last year? I love that someone thought to ask the question ‘how has God worked in your circle as you faced trials’. Isn’t that what it is all about. Whether in good times or bad times, we should always focus on how God is working and how we can bring Him glory. In the last year, we have suffered a lot of loss. But we have also gained much. We have gained a new set of priorities. We have gained memories of time spent with family that we would have never experienced. We have learned there is beauty in being ‘still’ and not running a rat race of going non-stop. A lot of the last year has been a mess…but ironically the messy times usually lend the most opportunity for growth and change.