Surviving the Storm
By Christy Young
Mitchell County
Many have said that there are two kinds of people, those going through a crisis (a storm) and those who will go through a crisis (a storm). It seems like during the past several weeks, we all find ourselves going through a storm as we have never encountered before. COVID-19 has definitely impacted our lives in a way that we will never forget. We find ourselves being put in “time-out”. The world as we know it has slowed down and we are facing times that we have never faced before. So how do we embrace and survive the storm? Do we become anxious, worry, and fret about the coming days? Or do we stand still and know that God is God through good and bad times. This storm may be a hardship on many of us, but I know that “all things work good for those who love the Lord.” No doubt that this storm will and has left a major impact on us. Most times these hardships in our lives seem to rush upon us, seemingly random, but they are not. Matthew 5:45 says, “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” These past weeks have been difficult not being able to attend church and assemble with my church family. But God always has a plan. With the obedience of many churches, pastors, and leaders; many have been reached through social media. I am hearing how God is working and reaching people amid the storm. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweigh them and will last forever!” We may be anxious about our finances, jobs, groceries, and much more. But we, as children of God will survive the storm. We can choose to embrace the quiet time that God has granted us right now and draw closer to Him, or we can let our circumstances control our emotions. We cannot control the future, nor this coronavirus…But I know Who Does! I truly believe that God will use this crisis for His immeasurable great glory! 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” Thankfully, storms never last forever. Weathering the storm is part of life. Face this storm with the protection of God, realizing that He is your shield. Believe in faith that at the end of the storm is a rainbow. A promise that God is always with you and wrapping you up in His everlasting love. Choose to survive the storm submerged in the presence of God!
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Christy Young is the blessed wife of Chris Young and proud mother of Hunter and Holden. She is a life-long resident of Mitchell County, works at Mitchell County Finance Office, and is a member of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
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