Four and a Half Months into Coronavirus Meets the Middle of the Summer

It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the summer.  Summer is always a hard time for churches—people are out of town much of the time, and when they are in town, it oftentimes feels easier to skip church than to go.  When we are out of our ordinary routines of school and work, mustering the energy to be consistent with church is difficult.  This is especially pronounced right now, because churches are either meeting inside with uncomfortable masks and other safety precautions, meeting outside in the heat and humidity, or meeting online in an impersonal and disconnected way.  It is hard to go to church during the summer, especially when the ways we are going to church leave a lot to be desired.
 
It is also hard to believe that we are almost 5 months into the time of coronavirus.  All rhythms of life have been radically affected during this season, and many Americans are dealing with acedia (the feeling of listlessness in the depths of the soul), discouragement, and even depression.  A friend of mine who is a psychiatrist mentioned last week that he has been overwhelmed with people asking for help because they simply feel lost, discouraged, and sad right now.  Most Americans have plenty to eat and a good roof over their heads, yet something seems missing.  We are waiting to reemerge into normalcy, but wonder whether it will ever come again.
 
I mention these things simply to state out loud what many of you have already recognized: If it seems harder than normal to care about things that matter—your prayer life, good rhythms as a family, coming to church, healthy physical habits, your work, etc.—you aren’t alone.  The circumstances don’t seem to be in our favor right now.  It is easy, when life is full of malaise, to slip into patterns of life that aren’t healthy.
 
So what should the Christian do?  It may seem obvious, but the more off-kilter our circumstances are, the more we should press into the habits that bring health to the soul.  In times of anxiety, sadness, and acedia, the Christian response should be clinging to God in concrete habits.  In other words, healthy habits—coming to church, singing praises loudly to God with our hands raised, confessing our sins on our knees, reading the Bible, praying as a family, resting appropriately, eating and drinking with both joy and temperance, exercising, reading novels that strengthen the soul, having real conversations with friends, listening to good music—matter more now than they do in times when everything is going well.  This takes perseverance, which is difficult, but as Romans 5 reminds us, perseverance results in hope, something that most of us need in this moment.
 
I say this to encourage you!  If you feel weighed down, you aren’t alone!  But don’t let the experience of the present keep you from the heart of God.  Use the experience of this moment to drive you deep into the heart of God!
 
Steven+

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