These are unprecedented times. When else have we seen the government intentionally close down major sectors of the economy? Run, hide in our homes and stay away from each other we are told….and this is prudent. We don’t want to inflict others with a deadly virus. The mighty media ramps up its campaign. Trapped in our homes, we are bombarded with the dreadful possibilities. Fear builds, leading us to entrench even more.

Does God want us buried in our bunkers, fearful, hiding?

Got me wondering, “What might God be up to?” A good God does not inflict disease on the people he loves, right? But why then might he have allowed this to happen? Certainly, he could have stopped it dead in it’s tracks; everything bows to his voice. Yet here we are. The way this has unfolded makes me feel like I’m caught in a giant spiral going down the drain. I told my wife that it reminds me of one of those Star Wars movies when a massive Imperial Starship, aflame after being hit by blow after blow, groans as it slowly collapses nose first into the ground. Know what I mean? As much as we try and as much as we delude ourselves thinking we have control, the reality is clear – We have little control over what happens.

How does God look at this? 

When trouble comes, I oft hear Roman’s 8:28 quoted. “

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:28 (NLT) 

It’s very comforting to know that God is here, weaving our various troubles together such that we who are called to his purpose will see the good coming in the midst. What is the good?

I look around and I see some things happening. People, in spite of the calls for isolation, are reaching out to each other. The phone is ringing. We’re reconnecting as we are abruptly disconnected from the rat race that we fell into. Good stuff! The smog is lifting, revealing cities. I’ve heard that you can see the fish in the canals of Venice now.  Many are going out on walks and engaging nature after flying past it for years. Also, good! We have neglected our world for so long. We are cooking our own meals. Perhaps we will remember the beauty of home cooking and time together at the table? Becoming healthier? Saving money?

Is this what God is after?    

Worldly benefit, where we tend to focus, is good, but I’m of the mind that this is the tip of the iceberg. Looking further into the surrounding verses in Roman’s is enlightening.

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”
The Apostle Paul in Romans 8:26-30 (NLT)

How good it is to know that the Holy Spirit helps us, pleading for us, in times like these when our weakness is so well displayed! How could we know what to pray for when so deeply in the midst of trouble? We need his help. Interestingly, the Spirit pleads in harmony with God’s own will. He’s not praying necessarily for the list of things we pray for (irradiating the virus for example). What then?

The rest of the scripture opens us to God’s own will. He has called us to come to him, so that we can have right standing with himself so he can give us his glory. How cool it is to know God’s agenda… What has he sought from the beginning? You! Your neighbor! All of us. He wants us to know the love that he experiences between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How is God’s agenda being fulfilled in the midst of a crisis like we are in? We must lean in to see.

This begs the questions:

If God “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them,” then what is the purpose he has called you to?    

And,

If you are not pursuing the purpose God has called you to, then will he still cause everything to work together for your good?

I have become convinced over the years that most people do not know the purpose God has called them to do. This is beyond unfortunate. Perhaps this is the real tragedy we face?

Sometimes it takes times like this to open eyes to see your purpose, your Life Mission, your reason for being.

You will find your Life Mission by leaning in; first into God, then into others, serving them from your pain in times their pain.

Paul writes, “And having chosen them, he called them to come to him.”

• Are you engaging God in new, deeper more intimate ways now as a result of this crisis? Lean in.
• Are you looking for opportunities to serve others? Start by understanding your own pain and serve from there. This is most powerful! Lean in.
• Do you need help discovering your Life Mission? Engage the Mission Curve™ process, allowing an advisor who is called by God to help you. Lean in.

Lean in and enter into the Adventure God Made You For. Let’s talk.

Go to www.bobblackcoaching.com to schedule a free consultation.