Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 NKJV
My temptation during this time of isolation is trying to fill the empty spaces with activity. We get addicted to busyness, and there are times when I feel guilty if I am not continually actively involved in doing things that are “productive.”
Some of the greatest, most impactful, most enduring results have come from a season of inactivity. Many of the Apostle Paul’s writings were birthed out of a time of isolation. If Paul would have been out of prison and actively involved in day-to-day ministry, we may not have the encouragement and wisdom that he shared in his letters to the churches.
John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the most-read Christian classics apart from the Bible, from his prison cell.
Don’t discount this time of isolation. Times of inactivity will allow thoughts or attitudes that have been pushed down because of our activity to come to the surface. I know for me, God may be trying to communicate something to me, but because of my constant activity, I am not quiet long enough for that which is niggling inside of me to come into my conscious thoughts.
Inactivity is not comfortable, especially in our fast-paced society. When that activity stops, I feel stressed, like I am dropping the ball, like I am being LAZY! That word “lazy” is a label that, having grown up with and permeated with a work ethic, feels like a failure of the highest order.
This passage from Proverbs 23:33-34 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 34then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber, has been burned into my subconscious over the years.
But Psalm 23:2-3 tells us He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3He restores my soul; NKJV. God leads us; He directs us to lie down in green pastures. It is there that He restores our soul. It is there that He brings healing and regeneration.
I encourage you not to fill this time with frivolous things, just to fill the empty space. Binge-watching Netflix is not what God desires for this time. Enjoy this precious time with your family, and not just in front of the TV. Engage in activities that build connection—take walks together, play board games together, talk, and share with each other. Set aside time to just be quiet in God’s presence. Allow His restoration and healing to come during this season.
I assure you there will be a lot more activity to come as the economy gradually opens up. But I trust that when you do step back into the activity, you do it from a more solid, grounded place. I pray that your trust in God grows, that you have confidence that He is in control of all things, even though it may seem that life around us is out of our control. He is our Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. He will surely guide us as we go forward.
