looking for answers

A few weeks before the COVID-19 Pandemic really took off, I posted part 1 of the Anything But Ordinary (ABO) series. The irony, of course, is that life has certainly been anything but ordinary since around mid-March. On some level, we’ve all been trying to make sense of it all, or at least enough sense to figure out what our response should be. Should you stock up? Hide? Invest? Horde? Relax? Panic? Truthfully, there’s a lot of different things you can do. But ultimately—

what you do comes down to where you look for answers.

You can find people that say this is the end of the economy; you can find those who say it’s the end of the world. You can find lots of people freaking out, and plenty of people chillin’ out (binging on Netflix & Disney+). Look to the news experts & you’ll see a new opinion every hour. Look to the “Facebook experts” & you’ll see self-proclaimed geniuses come out of the woodwork—

If we’re really honest with ourselves, we’re looking for something beyond the “when will this end/things get back to normal” questions. At a time where so much is seemingly out of control, it only makes sense to look to the One who’s in control—God Himself. In John 14:27 (NLT), Jesus revealed something so important for us to remember in today’s world. He said:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind & heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

The world can only offer the illusion of peace, an illusion that’s conditional on life’s circumstances being just right. The problem is, circumstances are hardly in our control & they’re always subject to change. Just look at what’s happening today.

But thank God, the gift of peace is found in Him. We don’t have to live troubled or afraid like everyone else, because the peace we so desperately need is still available. When you’re at peace, you regain your sense of control. And why does that matter? Because even though “every major crisis creates unexpected problems, every major crisis also creates unprecedented opportunities” (Craig Groeschel).

Today is still the best day to seize your opportunities, to be a blessing to others, and to live with purpose. Today is the day—

to step into that purpose.

Plagued with potential

There’s no doubt that we’re living through a defining moment in history, which is presumably why the COVID-19 Pandemic gets compared to other significant times—one of which being the Egyptian Plague.

While there’s definitely similarities, it’s this idea of being “plagued” that stands out. Except in our case, I can’t help but think of the potential we’ve been plagued with. On the surface, that may sound weird or even a little delusional. But if you look back on your life, some of the most defining moments came on the other side of hardship & despair.

This moment in time is no different. Now is the time to ask God to open your heart & mind, so you can recognize the unique opportunity that He has set aside for you. At the end of the day, untapped potential is pointless—

Realized Potential is Powerful.

Opportunity #1: Boxed-In

Sometimes you have to be boxed-in (quarantined) just to realize how boxed-in (mentally) you’ve already been. This is for anybody that’s felt like they’ve been going through the motions for some time now. Deep down, you know there’s more that God has in store for you. He desires to do more in you & through you. Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) says this:

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

That wasteland isn’t as much your surroundings, as it is the internal state of your heart & mind. God isn’t waiting for tomorrow or for everything to “go back to normal”, He’s already begun this new thing in you. Those who know what God’s planted in your heart need to embrace “it” today. Those who have the desire but lack the vision, simply need to tell God, “I’m open to whatever You’re calling me to do, have Your way as you show me the way”.

When you realize you’ve been boxed-in, it’s time to bust out before you become spoiled goods. It’s time to step out of your comfort zone & start living a life that’s predicated on purpose. Going through the motions gets you through phases—

setting things in motion takes you new places.

Opportunity #2: blessed

Even though this is a hard time in general, there’s still a lot of us who are in a really blessed position right now. Your health is good, you may have more time on your hands, greater flexibility—you name it. I know in my own life, it’s the times in which I’m most comfortable where I end up being the most complacent. And I think there’s a very real temptation to “just do your own thing” right now.

With a steady diet of entertainment options to consume & ample “me time”, the natural tendency is to develop an unhealthy, selfish appetite. But God desires to bless you with a very different appetite. An appetite that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 5:6 (NIV), when He said:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

People say, “you should never go to the grocery store when you’re hungry”. Why? Because everything looks good. But with God, your hunger to be a blessing on a daily basis is a really powerful tool. Why? Because everything looks like an opportunity.

When you allow God to renew your spiritual appetite, the cravings of selfishness get replaced with selflessness. The people in your life that need encouragement, receive a call from you. The people in your life that need your presence, receive your undivided attention. And the God you need more than anything else, receives your devotion. At a time when most believe there’s only so much you can do, God is faithful to reveal the countless things we can do. Don’t just be blessed—

Be a blessing.

Opportunity #3: burnt-out

There’s a lot of us who function like a broken traffic light. We only have one operating color, and that’s the color green. And what does green mean? Go. Day after day, week after week, even in the middle of a quarantine—we go. Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV) tells us that there’s a “right time” for everything in life:

“There’s a time to be born. And a time to die…A time to weep. And a time to laugh…A time to be quiet. And a time to speak…”

For some, it’s time to slow down…way down. God only knows just how much you need your yellow & red lights to come back on. Life is not a series of accomplishments for you to conquer, it’s a series of moments for you to experience. If you refuse to slow down—

You’ll miss the moments.

Others of us need to stop. We need to take God’s prescription of rest seriously, otherwise we’re headed for a serious crash. There’s a right time for everything. And you know this is the right time to rest, to allow God to reset your mind & your daily rhythms. His call on your life isn’t to do everything, it’s to surrender everything to Him. When you enter His rest—

You Enjoy What’s best.

The source

You want to know what ordinary is? It’s everything you have the opportunity to now leave behind.

Ordinary is too busy hoping for yesterday, instead of building towards tomorrow. Ordinary finds time to sulk, when you now have time to daydream again. Ordinary is waiting for things to “get back to normal”, instead of expecting so much better. Those who long for more than ordinary should look to the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) says:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Ordinary may wallow in misery, but God’s Spirit empowers us to rejoice in the mystery. The mystery of what good things God has in store for tomorrow, and even for today. Maybe for some of us, life as we know it came to an end so that real life could begin. So that we could find the source of life, Jesus Christ. Never stop looking for the Lord. Because whoever finds God—

Finds life.

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today’s Takeaways

• what you do comes down to where you look for answers.

• God hasn’t given you a spirit of panic but of peace.

• Realized Potential is Powerful.