State of Emergency: Christ in the Crisis
Originally written for The Sacred Desk.
I first heard about the coronavirus back in late December, maybe early January.
At the time, it wasn't being reported as much in the news cycles. But I was reading up on it, because I couldn't help but to notice the urgency––I was seeing in headlines or story slugs on my network affiliate news feeds at work. "Hundreds Infected with Coronavirus in China" were among the similar story titles I would see early on.
A few weeks later, it hit Japan, as well as neighboring countries. At my station, we were reporting what we knew about the outbreak during our national news blocks, but I remember a viewer commented on one of my show's livestreams––asking why we weren't covering the coronavirus more. They were enraged by the fact that we seemed to be overlooking this still very unfamiliar virus––that by this time was now plaguing parts of European countries overseas. I commented back, saying that we were "monitoring the outbreak and reporting the latest information, but because no cases were reported in the U.S., we didn't see the need to cover it extensively." And you know how that goes––if it's not directly impacting the American people, we're very much so aloof to even trying to give a care. Western privilege.
Less than 24 hours from that viewer's inquiring and enraged comment, the first case was reported in Seattle, Washington. In the States. That was late January. And now, two months later, I wish what I commented back to that viewer on a random Tuesday that month was still true. But it's not.
We're in a CRISIS.
Our entire world is most definitely facing the biggest health crisis in the history of all health crises. A pandemic. Life as we know it––ripped right from under us and probably will never be quite the same ever again.
And it's safe to say this pandemic, this virus, this coronavirus, this COVID-19 has not only quarantined us physically, but for some of us has also quarantined our hearts, our minds, and even our faith. It's quarantined us from hope and from peace–leaving us in a State of Emergency, only left to ask: "Where is GOD in all of this?"
I've posed this question quite a few times than not in my life, and expressed that same question here as well, because the truth is sometimes seeing the "all good, and all knowing, and all powerful" GOD we're taught about, read about, and say we believe in is hard when we're uncertain.
Believing in that GOD is hard when you're scared––filled with anxiety about your finances and how you're going to make ends meet. Seeing His goodness, His awareness, and His power can be difficult in times like these.
Last week, I was tired of Instagram. It became its own coronavirus filled with headlines and comments––blaming the media for this outbreak––as if we all gathered together in our newsrooms, got on one big conference call, and were like, "Let's create the coronavirus and scare people to death." NOPE. All we've been telling y'all is to wash your darn hands, to cover your mouths, and stop coughing and sneezing all over the darn place.
Before I decided to take a break from it for a few days, I saw this post from one of my favorite rappers and preachers of the Gospel, J. Monty. He wrote, "GOD allows CRISIS to lead us back to who CHRIST IS."
And then perspective came. And then another question came...
"Do I really know who CHRIST IS?" Similar to the question Jesus posed to His disciples in Matthew 16, when He asked, "Who do people say that I am?" His disciples replied, "Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets," (Matthew 16:13-14). If a random person on the street were to ask me this question pre-corona, I would've probably answered this question in a metaphorical, straightforward kind of way in hopes of getting this person to comprehend the deity of Christ. It would've went a lot like this, "He's the Savior of the world, you know? Kind of like 'the hero of the Bible.'"
And while that answer is essentially and truthfully correct, Christ is not bound to a superhero-complex. For goodness' sake, He's not like Peter Parker––human being with limitation and mortal––who just so happens to also be Spiderman. So, limiting Christ to 'hero of the Bible' is in fact just that––limiting.
So, the better question is "Who do I say that Christ is," or in other words, "Who is Christ to me?" The answer to that question is much deeper and becomes a lot more personal. Above being a Savior, I've also known Christ to be a friend. Battling anxiety is a pretty lonesome journey that I once faced for more than 20 years. It wasn't until I began to see Christ as more than just a religious deity, but as a friend who I could rely on to talk me out of the corners anxiety attacks used to bound me in.
Learning how to be content in my singleness also used to be THE STRUGGLE. And I'll be honest, I refuse to be one of those Christians who preaches that your single years are the best years of your life; NOPE...can't relate. My singleness journey has been ROUGH and full of bouts of discontentment. And when I was too embarrassed to admit that, I would talk out loud––reasoning with my friend, Jesus, the Christ. On the nights when I cried myself to sleep because I got tired of one disappointment after the next, and friends and family were too far to sit there with me, it was Christ that did.
So, who is Christ to me? Most definitely a Savior and so many other things, but the identity that matters most to me right now is friend. And it's during a Crisis that we need our friends. While many of us are practicing social distancing out of precaution, let me remind you that Christ isn't. He's closer––He's a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
Which leads me to ask another question: "Can it be that CHRIST IS in this CRISIS?" The answer is, YES, beloved.
Truthfully, the coronavirus wasn't the thing that freaked me out most. What freaked me out was the order of being quarantined. I still have to go to work (thank you government for deeming news personnel as essential), but the fact that I can't travel back home to see my family or go see a movie, or just "come and go as I please" is the actual part that freaks me out. I'm an introvert by every means necessary, and for majority of my adult life, I have willingly isolated myself in apartment-quarantine. Only difference was, if I wanted to be around people, I could! There was no such thing as social distancing for a long period of time for me. But now with states lawfully enforcing quarantines, I need to be close to something, but more importantly to someone. And I'm choosing to hold on and be close to Christ.
Like I said, it's hard to see the good in this. And it probably will continue to be every now and again. But what I'm learning is that this Crisis is revealing who GOD is, who I am, and the importance of community. Family, I urge you to stay connected––log in and stream your church (shout out to technology because I legit had CHURCH in my living room on Sunday while video chatting my boyfriend, and we were guests at Transformation Church), call your friends and stay active in your group chats, reach out to your family, but more importantly get plugged in with GOD. If that means getting back into your Word, do that! Listening to worship music to ease your fears and anxieties, do that! Talking out loud to GOD about your fears and worries, do that! The Bible tells us to,
"Cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us." (1 Peter 5:7)
We will get through this. GOD is fully aware of what's going on. He just needs to press pause every now and again, so that we can remember what's important. GOD is getting rid of the distractions and drowning out the noise, so that we can see and hear Him clearer than ever before. Sometimes we need a reset––a change of perspective. A lot of us said that 2020 would be the year of clearer vision, well, are you seeing things clearer yet? Can you see Him now? He's never too hard to find, all you have to do is open your eyes...He's right there––closer than He ever was before.
In the meantime, stay encouraged and stay close,
xo, Nic.
Scriptures of Hope:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"And the peace of GOD––which surpasses all understanding––will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
