Could you have imagined we’d be here even a few months ago? I’ve been around a long time and have never seen anything like this. The way we shop, work, socialize, exercise, and also the way we wash our hands are now different. Our sense of security has taken a hit as some have lost jobs, income, health, and even loved ones. It’s unnerving to adjust to a “New Normal” while not knowing what the future holds. During cancer, I found the scripture, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” I clung to it in many ways. When we’re fearful, stressed, and overwhelmed, we can overcome by inputting the opposite, just as Romans 21:12 says. Limiting their real estate in our heads and flooding ourselves with positives is a start. See a list of practical things that helped me during my cancer battle in this previous post, “From Cancer to Corona What I’ve Learned.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 21:21 (NIV)
God in a Box
In my quiet time this morning, I found myself reading the miracles performed by Jesus in the gospels. He smartly and lovingly tailored his miracles for maximum impact on all involved. They still inspire faith over 2,000 years later. Jesus sees, knows, and loves us as individuals. So it stands to reason that his miracles were unique each time. Jesus’ critics and followers could never put him in a predictable box. Coronavirus and its effects are also out of the box for us. Sometimes no matter what we do, it’s not enough. While we battle the invisible enemy of COVID-19, it’s the perfect time to study the supernatural miracles of an invisible God made human in Jesus.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 English Standard Version (ESV)
Spoke, Pushed, Asked
Jesus merely spoke a phrase to the Roman Centurian, and his servant was healed from several towns away. The words “Let it be done according to your faith” were radically profound to a polytheist Roman commander. Can you imagine the impact this conversation and miracle had on those who believed that faith was only for a chosen few? The 6,000 men under this Roman commander would hear about this miracle and believe in God. The woman with the issue of blood only had to touch the hem of his garment. Everyone was crowding against Jesus, yet she was the only one to get a miracle. Jesus asked the paralytic man if he wanted to be healed. Of course, he did. Sometimes we need to acknowledge our long-fought battle out loud to make it and our reliance on him real once again.
Contagious Diseases and Prayers for Bacon
Jesus made the audacious move of touching a man plagued with very contagious leprosy to impart healing. He spoke a word to heal the Centurian’s servant, and the hem of his garment healed the woman. He touched the leper for his benefit and the benefit of others present. Jesus freed two violently possessed men by talking to those spirits and sending them into pigs that ran off an ocean cliff. The herdsmen who knew these animals’ behavior told many in town about this miracle. Passersby, who had to take alternate routes for years to avoid these men, remembered God’s miracle each time they walked that road. Who knows? Maybe at that very moment, fishermen wanting some variety were beneath that cliff were praying for some bacon and ham. Imagine them opening their eyes to a herd of pigs splashing around them. Bacon from heaven. LOL
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
John 21:25, NIV
Fighting Sickness and Studying Miracles
We shouldn’t miss the perfect opportunity to overcome the “evil” of pandemic panic with good. Lately, I only have to be on social media for 5 minutes to see constant infighting, fingerpointing, and division. At this time of high anxiety, we owe it to ourselves to back away from stress and put in positivity. The best of humanity emerges within the worst of times. Following and posting on inspirational accounts and making gratitude journals can help us and others. When our world is fighting sickness, it makes sense to study the miracles of Jesus. In Matthew 8:5-13, like the Centurian soldier, you can be of a different religion, but studying Jesus’ acts from your honest perspective can bring you to a tremendous miracle. The woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8:43-48 is a beautiful story that encourages us to keep pushing through and reach out. We don’t have to be possessed like in Matthew 8:28-34, but when we feel overtaken and helpless, Jesus has a workaround. He makes it foolproof.
… but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 5:17-20 (ESV)
Radical, Multimimensional, Overcoming Faith
We have to live differently now due to this pandemic. We’ve all had some trouble adjusting. After this thing has passed, life won’t ever be the same, but it can be better in many ways. My life is better after the cancer though I went through some significant pain. I purposed from the start to look for the good, to do my part, to look for God’s hand working in my life, and the most challenging thing was to leave the outcome to him. Instead of feeding this pandemic-panic, let’s turn off the tv toxins and back off from embittered people and social media that stresses us. Let’s study the miracles to believe miracles. They are fun to research while they feed our faith. They may even break our misguided stereotypes of God. Let’s pray and build up our spirits and also link together to encourage one another. Ephesians 5:15-25 gives us the pattern. There’s no better way to “overcome evil” and emerge from this dark time than with a deeper faith and relationship with God. That’s radical, multidimensional, and overcoming, just like Jesus.
May God bless and keep you and yours.
Love and Blessings,
Sandy
