For many Americans, sheltering in place is something they have never done. For some, like me, who have compromised immune systems, who have had many surgeries, this is not unlike what we must do during most flu seasons.

I will not say that I am not worried, because I most certainly am. But, I’ve also been in a scary situation like this before, at least for my health. And the Lord took care of me. That is what we as believers must trust Him to do for us now. Does that mean we are reckless with our decisions? Absolutely not! The biggest reason for caution is because we have no idea if we are carrying the virus and who was may contaminate simply by coming into contact with them.

A year and a half ago, I had a hip replacement and I never really seemed to get well afterwards. Ten days later, I ended up back in the hospital with what they thought was sepsis. Two months later, I dislocated the new hip (out the back of a front hip surgery, a new and completely unusual thing for the hospital which made me somewhat of an anomaly), and found out while in the hospital that I had not one but three hospital borne infections.

I ended up on IV antibiotics and a medicine that we later found out either could have killed me in 30 minutes or would help me. They didn’t tell us this, they just gave it to me… twice. But the infections persisted until the infectious disease specialist I was seeing told me to decide whether I wanted quality or quantity of life. An impossible choice.

During this time, I was quarantined as you can imagine. If I did go out, I was wearing a mask. I used Hibacleanse to wash with in the shower. It is what you wash with prior to surgery. I carried hand sanitizing wipes because those I could throw away instead of just wiping the gel around my hands. I bought a mask rated to actually catch flu virus. And we planned a trip for our family so that the kids would have some good memories in the event that these infections took my life.

Obviously, you know from the fact that I am writing this that I am still here today. God was good. That quality or quantity question pushed me to find another infectious disease doctor and he helped me to get well. But ever since then, I have been very careful about infection risk. I am careful about who and what I touch when I am in public. I don’t go into stores very often. I limit my contact with the outside world. They invented grocery pickup for a reason friends! And Amazon, well, Amazon and I, we are in a love affair I must admit. I can get everything I need off of Amazon almost, except for toilet paper and hand sanitizer right now apparently. (Do not worry though, because we live this way, we are fine on both)

And I guess that last line is my point. I live this way, every day, all day. So am I scared? Of course! If I get this virus, I am afraid I would be the person they declined the ventilator to. But my family is used to being cautious. We are used to sheltering. We don’t socialize a lot so not being able to does not cripple us like it does other people.

I hope maybe everyone in America takes this time to really take inventory. Realize there are those around you who literally live the way everyone is being asked to live right now, but they do it all the time by choice so that they can attempt to live longer for their families. Flu season is as scary to people with a compromised immune system as the corona virus is to healthy people. (Put yourself in the shoes of a person with a compromised immune system praying they don’t get the corona virus.) But on the other hand, as you live like this all of the time, it gets easier and easier. So these changes don’t affect our lives quite as much.

I’m used to being alone. I don’t get out a lot, I cancel plans often, and I am very aware of my surroundings if I am out. Washing hands is a constant necessity not something I have had to implement right now. Clorox is our friend!

I truly believe that God knows the number of our days. If we are to die from this virus, then God already knew that. But if we aren’t, we will be fine. God saw me through not one but three hospital borne infections. Most people don’t survive one. It wasn’t my time to die yet. So if I get the Coronavirus, God will either get me through it as well, or it will be my time to go Home. And that will be ok too, because I am ready.

Are you ready? Some of the fear surrounding this virus is fear of the unknown. And I understand that. I fear getting sick. Will they see my list of conditions and deny me care? I pray not. But I don’t know. Will my kids get sick? This is a bigger fear to me than me getting sick.

But reality is, God knows the hairs on our heads. This virus was not a surprise to Him. He knows when and how we will die. We do have a way to know for sure what happens to us when we die. While I know that for me as a mom with smaller kids, it doesn’t make me want to die necessarily, it does alleviate the fear of death. How? Because I know that I have sinned and fallen short of the line that God has set for all of us to achieve. None of us can make it on our own. Roman’s 3:23. The price for our sin is death. However, Jesus came and died for us so that we have a precious gift of eternal life if we accept the free gift extended to us. Roman’s 6:23. You say that it sounds too easy, or you have done too many bad things. Friend I have felt both things. But Jesus literally died for us so that when we die we can spend eternity with Him, so that death is not a fearful thing for us! Believing on Jesus is as simple as praying, saying Jesus I know I have done really bad things, I haven’t been a good person always like I have wanted to. I am so thankful to know that You died in my place so that I could live eternally with You when my physical body dies. I ask You to come into my heart and save me from my sins. Forgive me and make me clean. In Jesus Name Amen that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

So rather than spending time and energy obsessing over something we can’t know and cannot change, maybe we should rest in the hands of an Almighty God, and maybe we should stop worrying about going outside of our houses and worry about how we can step outside of our comfort zones and help someone in need.

There will be great impact from this virus. Not to only physical health, but to mental and emotional health too. Being quarantined can cause big emotions to come to the surface. Loneliness, anger, fear. Depression and suicide rates will climb. Please, think of others. Reach out, call, text, mail a card. Let someone know they are cared for and not alone even if they feel that way because they haven’t seen another human for a few days. Be intentional. If you have to go out, take hand sanitizing wipes, if you it makes you feel better wear a mask, even wear gloves. And maybe while you are at the store, grab a loaf of bread or that last coveted roll of toilet paper for your elderly or immune compromised friend. You don’t have to go in, leave it on their doorstep and back away. But I guarantee they won’t feel as lonely or sad when they know they were on someone’s mind and their needs have been taken care of for another week because of what you have done.

I would add here, we live in a digital age. Let’s use it. Stay connected! I feel so much less alone when I stay connected to my friends even if it is online. If you haven’t seen a friend come online for a couple days, text or call them or try to find out why. Let’s be genuinely caring friends not just strangers behind a computer screen.

This is where we are the hands and feet of Jesus. Take no thought for the morrow for the morrow will take care of itself. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

God knows our needs both physical and those in our hearts and emotions. Trust Him. And when this is over, don’t forget how you felt and what you learned and and take care of those around you who literally live like this every day of their lives. Reach out and let them know you understand and you care. Tell them they are loved. That means more than a visit or a bag of groceries could.

And trust. Isaiah 26:3,4 You will keep in in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

We are frail, fallible humans. We will fall, but our God will not! This isn’t an experience many Americans are familiar with, praise God for that! But as the fear mounts and people are walking through something they can’t see the end of, let’s remind them that Gods Word is a light to our feet and shines light on our path. Psalm 119:105

We may be inconvenienced for a few weeks, and honestly maybe a little scared. But we can be a light to a dark, scared world. Let’s endeavor to do that instead of hiding our light because we don’t trust in the One Who created us in our mother’s wombs and has full control as to what happens to us during the normal flu season or a scary pandemic outbreak. Let’s do our best to trust Who we can’t see, and instead of feeding into the fear let’s lead others to the stream in the dessert, Jesus Christ.