Giving When It's the Hardest to Give

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ“

 – Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

This verse has been on my heart during this season of Covid-19 and uncertainty. Right now we’re all experiencing a time where every new day seems to be more challenging than the previous one. 

Social isolation, an idea that most people initially embraced as a nice little break from our everyday hectic lives is slowly starting to chip away at our emotional and mental health. How can we give when we are feeling circumstantially and emotionally fatigued? Be it offering the gesture of buying groceries or just simply reaching out to say hi or check up on loved ones to offer upliftment – it can feel like a chore! I’ll be the first to admit, I have felt that way at times.

The truth is – we are confined! We are confined to restrictions that affect us personally with little to no control over it. We give up. We give up to the point that things around us probably cease to provide meaning so we just don’t try. However, the bigger and better truth is – we serve an almighty and loving God who is in control of our lives and our situations.

So how can we get through this? If you thought – together? Then, yes, you are on the right track. We can get through this together, by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and entrusting our lives to him. Putting our faith in Christ calls us to love like him and during this time of crisis, one of the many ways to love people is to give them our time. Being available and making time to connect with people during this time can be encouraging and enriching for us as believers who follow Christ’s teachings.

We read in James 2:14-18, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

We understand faith without deeds is dead, so now it’s our chance to share that peace and love of God with those around us. Lend an ear to those who are going through an emotionally tough time, lend a hand to someone who might not have the same access to amenities or necessities that you do. Reach out and encourage each other with the hope that our heavenly father has given to us.

I’m blessed to be encouraged by my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who check in with me from time to time. Through their encouragement, I’m truly learning to lean into God and His plans for this season. I see my church family offer help and assistance in a time of unspoken needs and I’m encouraged to spread the love of Christ in the same way. I have peace in not knowing what the future holds because I know that my future is in His hands. We can be reminded of this assurance with this verse from Jeremiah: “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)

With this hope, I encourage you to reach out to as many people as you can this season and speak God’s hope and love to them. Let’s use this time to pray for those around us and check in to let them know that they are loved.

Stay safe everyone! God bless!