By Caleb N. Gonsalves
Life is constantly changing and not much of it can be predicted. I don’t think anyone, or at least anyone reading this, expected a virus of this nature to happen. The unpredictable happens more often than not; the question is not if something unexpected will happen, but rather, what our course of action should be during the unexpected.
One of the instructions the Bible gives us for when we are in times of uncertainty is to hope in the Lord. This may look differently for everyone. The way we approach hope can be very individualistic. While the Google definition of hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen,” as Christians, this goes deeper. We are not just wishing for good things, but rather trusting in the Lord, remembering that he is in control and already aware of all outcomes. This means we can trust in him, and that he will give us hope for what lies ahead of us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
As I sit here on a mostly empty college campus, I worry about what an all online class schedule will look like and the things I will be missing as a senior. I question what this means for me, what it means to fully trust him and to have hope during these uncertain times. Does it mean not worrying about my autoimmune system disorder or my respiratory issues? I ask myself, what am I holding back from the Lord? What pieces of my life am I not willing to surrender to Him?
As I ponder these questions and more, I realize there is a lot I am holding onto. I have made plans for what these next few months will look like, and those plans are no longer on the table. So I could cry and pout and worry about what that means for me (and believe me, I am very worried about what my future holds) or I could trust in the Lord and see what he has for me.
Before I came to this area and started attending William Jessup, I had a period of time where I was couch surfing while working. Before this time, I lost my brother to cancer when I was just a child. Both of these experiences wrecked me and forced me to give everything I had to the Lord. When you are a kid and not sure why your brother is sick and if he will get better, or if you as a teen are unsure where you will be sleeping for the rest of the week, it is very hard to focus on anything but God. During these times, and other hardships, is when I have felt most connected to the Lord, and most in tune with my faith. My life verse, Romans 8:28, is one that brings me quite a bit of comfort. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (ESV). This does not mean that trusting in God will make all your problems go away. This verse is explaining that God is in control and sometimes this means you won’t like what he allows to happen. Hardships have been used in my life to bring me closer to Him, and I am sure have helped God’s kingdom in many other unseen ways.
This virus is affecting all of us in some way, whether you or someone you know has the virus, you or someone in your close circle lost a job, you’re dealing with dramatic schedule shifts, or a plethora of other problems that have been caused by the coronavirus. We are all trying to figure out what this means for us. The question is not if uncertainty exists, but what you are doing when it hits. Are you trusting in God that things will bring him glory? Are you admitting that He is in control? Which parts of your life are you holding back from a complete surrender? What steps can you take to submit your pain and hopelessness to the Lord? The hope you can exchange it for is far better than anything you’re holding onto. And believe me, trying to make it through hardships on your own is something that never works out.
BIO: Caleb is a senior at William Jessup University, he is currently pursuing a dual Bachelor's Degree in English and Christian Leadership. After he graduates he hopes to pursue a Masters Degree in Library Science, and to one day work in a High School Library while volunteering in youth ministry like he does he at St Matthew Lutheran Church. In his spare time, Caleb is also working on getting pieces of his poetry published.