Musings on Isolation

There's a lot going on right now that can often make me feel afraid.

Being isolated from people can also make me feel scared, or grumpy, or just lonely.

But I have learned something from our days of quarantine and isolation.

Isolation isn't all bad.

Even though I sometimes feel afraid with everything that's going on, I have learned a lot during this time, especially how to lean more on God, and to trust Him.

I've found that while I still sometimes miss people, especially my church family, that I actually like when it's just me and God. Prefer it even. Sometimes there are still distractions during this time, but there are fewer distractions with fewer social obligations.

So, I like some parts of isolation. It brought me closer to God, because I allowed myself to move closer to Him. It caused me to trust Him more, because I chose Him over my fear.

I'm still not ready to be around a lot of people, especially since our case numbers had been going up where I live (they seem to be going down finally), but I'm learning to just breathe, and to remember that God can and will handle this too.

And I'm so grateful that He is with me wherever I am, at church, or watching at home online. At work, or at home. By myself or in a room full of people. And I've learned to seek out His presence more, to feel it wherever I am, even when I am in the midst of a panic attack. Or rather, especially then.

And I'm learning to appreciate this time of social isolation, because it has brought me deeper into His presence.

I know things are a mess right now. I know we miss our friends and families and that some of us are high-risk and can't even go out to church like some can. I also know that God meets us wherever we are. Physically or spiritually. We just have to be open to meeting with Him.

Use this time of social isolation to spend more time with God. Seek Him while you are in your home, in your secret place. Use this time with fewer social obligations to get to know Him as you've gotten to know the friends and family who are so dear to you.

I pray that things settle down soon, but even if they don't, I know God's got this, and I will always be grateful for the extra time I got to spend with Him during my days of isolation.