When Unexpected Things Happen
March 21, 2020
At this time last year, I was in the Philippines visiting my family and doing outreach for poor children and their families, as part of our non-profit organization's mission. A year later, I find myself talking to my family on video chat, as we are all locked up in our own houses.
Let's not even go that far. I just celebrated my 52nd birthday last month; and now, a month later, I am seeing unimaginable things unfold before my eyes.
None of us was spared of this SUDDEN change. None of us was spared of the instant shift from being busy doing our day-to-day tasks and even planning for our future, to not even knowing what to do and what lies ahead. Regardless of who you are and where you are, we are all facing the same blank wall.
For those who are still in denial, honestly, I feel sorry for you. By the time you wake up to reality, it may be too late.
This is the reality: UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN. And they can happen SUDDENLY and in HUGE measures.
Not even America, being the superpower of the world, was prepared for something like this.
EVERYONE WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
What does this tell us? What is this crisis showing us?
For those of you who want to think that this is a move for the New World Order to come in, I don't have time for you. This is another means of escape for some people, so they can blame someone for what's going on.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THIS CRISIS IS SHOWING US.
First, this crisis is exposing the hearts and minds of people. It is differentiating those who are stable and those who are easily shattered; those who are wise and those who are foolish; those who are proactive and those who are reactive; those who are selfish and those who are selfless. The best and worst in people are coming out.
MORE THAN WHAT'S BEING EXPOSED, THIS CRISIS IS SHOWING US THAT ...
None of us is in control. THIS is what's making the majority of people restless, helpless, and agitated.
It is not the Covid-19 virus in itself that's making people unsettled. It is the LOSING CONTROL over the situation that makes people uncomfortable.
When we have our ducks in a row: our future planned, our savings in place, plans to grow our business, career path to follow, places to travel to for vacation, etc., we feel good because we are in control. We want clear direction. We want to know where we're headed. We want to know what to do. And if others can't help us on this, it is our human nature to do it ourselves and figure out what to do. As Marie Forleo says: "Everything is Figureoutable".
So, when we lose control even of the things that we can control, that's when it gets very uncomfortable. And this is where we are right now.
Yes, being positive at this time really helps. But that positivity will not sustain you if you don't have the right source for your positivity. No amount of faith and hope will sustain you if that faith is not anchored on the right source of faith.
THIS CRISIS shows that at this point, YOU CAN'T HAVE FAITH ON ANYONE OR ANYTHING. How can you put your trust on leaders who are just like you and me, facing this crisis for the very first time? How can you trust our country when you know that the people running the country are also susceptible to the virus?
Tell me, how can you put your faith on someone or something that is as vulnerable as you and me.
THIS IS THE HUGEST POINT OF THIS CRISIS!
To show us that THERE IS SOMEONE GREATER THAN ALL OF US COMBINED, INCLUDING ALL THE NATIONS PUT TOGETHER.
If you're still not seeing it, I don't know what will make you see.
GOD is GOD because HE IS. He is not like man. He is God because He is higher than man. He created man. He created the world where He placed the people He Himself created. He is the only One who is not vulnerable to this crisis. He is the only One in control.
I don't know about you, but this is the most assuring thing for me. It's like knowing that I have a DAD who I can run to ... a DAD who can protect me ... a DAD who can tell me that everything is going to be fine.
This is where my faith is.
In my book, Simplify to Intensify, I wrote that YOU CAN'T TRUST A GOD YOU DON'T KNOW; BUT YOU ALSO CAN'T KNOW A GOD YOU CAN'T TRUST.
My strong faith in God comes as a result of years of getting to know Him through a personal relationship. Yet, my desire to want to know Him came as a result of simply trusting Him. And that "simply trusting Him" came as a result of a crisis in my life ... a shaking up that made me call out to Him and finally surrender.
What if God is simply waiting for you to surrender to Him? What if your surrender, and the surrender of others will push in His miracle and kick out this virus as quickly as it came?
God wants nothing but the best for us. Yet, you and I know how hard it is for us to change our ways even if there is something better out there. We are so accustomed to doing things the way they are. None of us wants change, more so if the change is something we are not comfortable in. However, it is when we are kicked out of our comfort zones that we begin to see the light that we don't see when we're stuck in our old ways of doing things.
I SEE MY GOD DOING A NEW THING. I see Him doing something unexpectedly beautiful. I see it because He has given me eyes to see.
I want you to see what I see. Will you come with me?
If you want to come with me, since we need to maintain social distance, I suggest that you close your eyes after you read the rest of this blog post. Close your eyes and say, "Heavenly Father, the Creator of the Universe, I'm sorry for everything I've done wrong. Forgive me for not even thinking of you, or prioritizing you. I feel so helpless now. I am humbled. Come into my life, Lord Jesus. Let me see from your eyes. I receive you as my Lord and Savior."
You can pray in whatever way you feel like praying. This is just my way of guiding you.
If you do this, and you believe that God heard you, then He will meet you where you are.
THIS IS THE ONLY SOLID ANCHOR YOU CAN HAVE RIGHT NOW.
Everything else will come from this place, including the wisdom on the steps you need to take to not only survive this crisis but to stay on top of your game.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
Let's not even go that far. I just celebrated my 52nd birthday last month; and now, a month later, I am seeing unimaginable things unfold before my eyes.
None of us was spared of this SUDDEN change. None of us was spared of the instant shift from being busy doing our day-to-day tasks and even planning for our future, to not even knowing what to do and what lies ahead. Regardless of who you are and where you are, we are all facing the same blank wall.
For those who are still in denial, honestly, I feel sorry for you. By the time you wake up to reality, it may be too late.
This is the reality: UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN. And they can happen SUDDENLY and in HUGE measures.
Not even America, being the superpower of the world, was prepared for something like this.
EVERYONE WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
What does this tell us? What is this crisis showing us?
For those of you who want to think that this is a move for the New World Order to come in, I don't have time for you. This is another means of escape for some people, so they can blame someone for what's going on.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THIS CRISIS IS SHOWING US.
First, this crisis is exposing the hearts and minds of people. It is differentiating those who are stable and those who are easily shattered; those who are wise and those who are foolish; those who are proactive and those who are reactive; those who are selfish and those who are selfless. The best and worst in people are coming out.
MORE THAN WHAT'S BEING EXPOSED, THIS CRISIS IS SHOWING US THAT ...
None of us is in control. THIS is what's making the majority of people restless, helpless, and agitated.
It is not the Covid-19 virus in itself that's making people unsettled. It is the LOSING CONTROL over the situation that makes people uncomfortable.
When we have our ducks in a row: our future planned, our savings in place, plans to grow our business, career path to follow, places to travel to for vacation, etc., we feel good because we are in control. We want clear direction. We want to know where we're headed. We want to know what to do. And if others can't help us on this, it is our human nature to do it ourselves and figure out what to do. As Marie Forleo says: "Everything is Figureoutable".
So, when we lose control even of the things that we can control, that's when it gets very uncomfortable. And this is where we are right now.
Yes, being positive at this time really helps. But that positivity will not sustain you if you don't have the right source for your positivity. No amount of faith and hope will sustain you if that faith is not anchored on the right source of faith.
THIS CRISIS shows that at this point, YOU CAN'T HAVE FAITH ON ANYONE OR ANYTHING. How can you put your trust on leaders who are just like you and me, facing this crisis for the very first time? How can you trust our country when you know that the people running the country are also susceptible to the virus?
Tell me, how can you put your faith on someone or something that is as vulnerable as you and me.
THIS IS THE HUGEST POINT OF THIS CRISIS!
To show us that THERE IS SOMEONE GREATER THAN ALL OF US COMBINED, INCLUDING ALL THE NATIONS PUT TOGETHER.
If you're still not seeing it, I don't know what will make you see.
GOD is GOD because HE IS. He is not like man. He is God because He is higher than man. He created man. He created the world where He placed the people He Himself created. He is the only One who is not vulnerable to this crisis. He is the only One in control.
I don't know about you, but this is the most assuring thing for me. It's like knowing that I have a DAD who I can run to ... a DAD who can protect me ... a DAD who can tell me that everything is going to be fine.
This is where my faith is.
In my book, Simplify to Intensify, I wrote that YOU CAN'T TRUST A GOD YOU DON'T KNOW; BUT YOU ALSO CAN'T KNOW A GOD YOU CAN'T TRUST.
My strong faith in God comes as a result of years of getting to know Him through a personal relationship. Yet, my desire to want to know Him came as a result of simply trusting Him. And that "simply trusting Him" came as a result of a crisis in my life ... a shaking up that made me call out to Him and finally surrender.
What if God is simply waiting for you to surrender to Him? What if your surrender, and the surrender of others will push in His miracle and kick out this virus as quickly as it came?
God wants nothing but the best for us. Yet, you and I know how hard it is for us to change our ways even if there is something better out there. We are so accustomed to doing things the way they are. None of us wants change, more so if the change is something we are not comfortable in. However, it is when we are kicked out of our comfort zones that we begin to see the light that we don't see when we're stuck in our old ways of doing things.
I SEE MY GOD DOING A NEW THING. I see Him doing something unexpectedly beautiful. I see it because He has given me eyes to see.
I want you to see what I see. Will you come with me?
If you want to come with me, since we need to maintain social distance, I suggest that you close your eyes after you read the rest of this blog post. Close your eyes and say, "Heavenly Father, the Creator of the Universe, I'm sorry for everything I've done wrong. Forgive me for not even thinking of you, or prioritizing you. I feel so helpless now. I am humbled. Come into my life, Lord Jesus. Let me see from your eyes. I receive you as my Lord and Savior."
You can pray in whatever way you feel like praying. This is just my way of guiding you.
If you do this, and you believe that God heard you, then He will meet you where you are.
THIS IS THE ONLY SOLID ANCHOR YOU CAN HAVE RIGHT NOW.
Everything else will come from this place, including the wisdom on the steps you need to take to not only survive this crisis but to stay on top of your game.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
If you know someone who needs to read this ...
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LISA MAKI
Simplify to Intensify (c) 2019 |