Giving Thanks for COVID-19

Many of us struggle to know God’s will. We wrestle with daily and important decisions, fearful that the wrong choice might remove us from the path for which God has designed. It is good for us to be concerned with such matters since the Scriptures command that we must “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). While a particular career path, the exact choice of a mate, or even the amount of money which we should or should not spend on a hobby is not specifically defined in a Bible verse (though guiding principles for each of these decisions is), there are certain insights into God’s will for us that are unquestioned. In his letter to the Thessalonian church, Paul wrote “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). An attitude of gratitude toward God is always the correct response. In fact, Paul also explained to the church in Rome that it is the refusal to give thanks which leads to “futile thinking” and “foolish hearts”, and eventually ends in God’s giving these over to “a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:21-28).

So, we know that it is God’s will that we should give thanks. There are undoubtedly many things for which we can note in our lives whereby we gladly do so. But how can we possibly give thanks under circumstances in which evil flourishes or suffering increases? Would God have us ignore wickedness or respond with such carelessness toward the obvious sorrow that abounds? This was certainly not the attitude of the writers of Scripture. Among many others, the prophet Habakkuk boldly expressed his complaints to God as to how His will could be accomplished even amidst the suffering of His people.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?...Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted…You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:2-4, 13).

Without ignoring obvious suffering and injustice, these writers understood that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than those of man (Isaiah 55:9). Though expressing their pain and confusion to God, they did not abandon faith that God’s glory would be revealed in such things and that God’s people would be redeemed in the end. It is from this same vein of faith by which we also can now give thanks. Even amidst the great anguish caused by a global pandemic, we can give thanks. Even amidst the growing uncertainty of a shrinking economy that will adversely impact our livelihoods for the foreseeable future, we must give thanks. Even amidst a culture which brazenly rejects God’s law and the Savior who alone can rescue us from these desperate times, we should give thanks.

While God’s glory yet to be fully revealed from our current difficulties is certainly of greater scope than any of us can possibly fathom, it is good for us to note of those specific ways in which our current struggles should cause us to pour forth our gratefulness to God. There are at least three that we should consider.

1. Difficulty Can Offer Discipline

Discipline is not typically viewed as a gift. For many, we think of punishments received as a child which brought pain to our backsides and the loss of certain privileges. However, Scripture acknowledges discipline as a contribution or endowment to the character of the one who receives it well (Hebrews 12:5-11). For believers, we know “that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4). Even in our nation’s history, there is evidence that the development of the “greatest generation” (those Americans that fought and won World War II) came about during the Great Depression. Those who learn well through the fires of suffering and hardship develop character which is accompanied with great reward.

2. Pausing Can Reignite Purpose

With state orders that have required major changes for all of us in regard to our daily activities, it is as though the “pause” button has been pressed on our lives. The normal activities of work, school, sports, social events, and any number of hobbies has been halted. We have been forced to “shelter-at-home”. Yet, perhaps this should cause us to reevaluate God’s gift of the home for which He provides us shelter. “Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home” (Proverbs 27:8). What a blessing it is to rekindle the most important relationships for which God has entrusted us. May we learn through this that our accomplishments in this life will pale in importance to the relationships we foster.

3. Readjustment Can Foster Refinement

The church has been forced to function in a manner for which most of us have never been familiar. Our public gatherings on Sundays and Wednesdays (which generally dominate the greatest portion of our resources and attention) have been halted for a time. Those gatherings for which we may have taken for granted have fostered an appreciation for “not neglecting to meet together” (Hebrews 10:25). Yet, more than this, this current difficulty is refining the people of God. There is a greater attention to God’s Word, prayer, and evangelism to the lost. We are uncovering ministry opportunities for which we should not have forgotten. The Lord of the harvest is sending out laborers for His glorious work (Matthew 9:38)!

While Habakkuk would ply the Lord with his complaints because of circumstances for which he could not possibly understand, he would end his book with a glorious statement of faith.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

In the same manner, let us who are in Christ rejoice and give thanks for all that God is doing and going to do!

Jason