Rejoice in the Lord, even during the middle of COVID-19

Our job as a Christian is to rejoice in the Lord always. That job is magnified as a Christian educator. Yes, even during the great quarantine of 2020, our Father calls us to rejoice in the Lord. Rejoicing in the Lord is not a suggestion, it’s a command. It’s a call to action to honor our Father. It’s so important that we rejoice that it is repeated in the scripture. What does rejoicing look like? Is it a loud shout? Is it the waving of our hands? It’s different for different people. I believe that we rejoice in the Lord when we make up our minds to serve Him while finding our joy in His love. It’s a lifestyle of worship that we display with our lives.

This scripture tells us to let your gentleness be evident to all. There’s a difference between being nice and exhibiting the gentleness that God expects from us. The gentleness must override any human feelings. We have to constantly check our attitudes, especially during this quarantined season. Gentleness is not a byproduct of evil, but a direct reflection of having a true relationship with Christ. Gentleness often includes forgiveness. Our students, co-workers, parents, and community should be able to see our gentleness in our everyday actions. COVID-19 should not have any affect on our gentleness. Christ’s love is bigger than any school shut down.

We are commanded to not be anxious. Honestly, how is that possible, especially dealing with the things that we have going on? Once again, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. It’s quite simple. We are not designed to carry the burdens of sin or stress. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins. He sacrificed his life so that we can have a real relationship with him. He wants to walk with us daily.  

When we take our cares to the Lord, he will give us his peace. His peace transcends all understanding, meaning that we won’t be able to process it at all. During this time we need his peace like never before. His peace is what is allowing families to love each other during this time of confinement. His peace is what is keeping our students safe while they are at home with their families. Last but not least, his peace will guard our hearts and our minds. 

When we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, and we depend on God to grant us peace in our hearts and our minds, a change happens. Our perspectives are changed. Our heart and our mind direct our action as a person. God’s peace will govern how we think with our minds and how we feel with our hearts. It’s important in the field of education to have the love of Christ as the center of every action.

Ways we can Rejoice in the Lord

• Spend Time in the Presence of GodThis can be accomplished by intentionally setting aside time to honor God by seeking his presence. Be practical and intentional about scheduling your time with God. During this time, limit all distractions and focus on spending time with God. Pray, sing songs of worship, and read His word. His presence will provide us comfort and wrap us in peace. Be consistent with making your time with God a priority and you will begin to see changes in your daily life.

• Spend time with your familyThe family is the first ministry that God ordained. Make sure that we are spending valuable time with our families. As teachers by trade, we shouldn’t treat our students better than our own children at home. As Christians we are called to offer forgiveness and grace to our families each day. Let’s celebrate our families by stepping outside the norm. Establish new family traditions to celebrate God’s love.

• Make a differenceWe can make a difference by caring and sharing love towards others. As educators we can definitely brighten someone’s day with a simple smile or kind gesture, but I challenge you to take it a step further. Make a difference by investing time and energy into those families you serve. One way that I hope to make a difference is by engaging in conversations with my students and their families. I visit my students, practicing social distancing of course. I make sure that my students and their families know that my commitment to them supersedes COVID-19.  We have to remember that even in the midst of this pandemic, God is still in control. He is definitely going to get the glory out of all of this that we are going through. We can bring glory to God’s name by spending time in His presence, spending time with our families, and making a difference in the Kingdom of God.