Respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect.
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NCV)
Change—no matter how comfortable, or as in our world’s present situation, uncomfortable—is good. It forces us out of our comfort zones, which can be spiritual dead ends. Instead, it reminds us to lean into God and press on. Comfort zones are self-focused, and change can be, too. But what if we used our current circumstances as opportunities to get our eyes off of ourselves? What if we refused to get caught up in pity parties and instead chose to be God-focused and therefore others-focused? Comfort zones and selfishness keep us stuck; change helps us grow. One limits, the other expands. One imprisons, the other frees.
In our world of rushing and competing and striving and climbing, rest is good. Rest makes us stop and evaluate. It makes us take a deep breath, when we typically barely take the time to come up for air at all. It opens our hearts and our minds and pulls us back to God’s own heart and away from our self-serving tendencies. It transforms us from victims to servants. We must make a choice every day to be imprisoned by our circumstances or freed by our opportunities!
During this time of uncertainty and fear and change, shine brighter! Take advantage of this very temporary situation to share the One who is forever! Be a light in someone else’s darkness, and encourage those who are struggling. Let them see how Christ-followers live—with hope, with joy, and with full confidence in the God of Heaven, the God who gave all for you! Let them see how you live and breathe and carry on with confidence because of WHOSE you are, not because of your circumstances. Let them witness the hope that drives your heart, your life, your everything! Let them see Jesus!! Then, they too, can live in the light, share it with others, and help end this present darkness altogether. Darkness doesn’t stand a chance when you shine Jesus into the world. So go shine love! Shine hope! Shine LIFE! You are loved!