It’s already been weeks for most of us where we’ve been under a “shelter in place” order or something similar. Most however are still not quite adjusted to a “new normal” and some don’t want to adjust at all. I’ve noticed in any situation like this we can view it as a curse, a problem to be avoided, escaped from or solved.
However what if you and I looked at it as an opportunity? Opportunities tend to bring hope, without any opportunity there is likely no hope. But to be clear, opportunities aren’t always pleasant. For example this situation could be an opportunity to expose that our trust is in something other than God. It could be an opportunity to reveal an underlying loneliness or relational strain that was unrecognized in the busy seasons we’ve all been in.
But even with the challenges that some opportunities can pose, they rarely are a “curse”. Again, if this situation exposes a shallow faith or misplaced trust we can choose to go deeper and realign. If loneliness is revealed, it’s a chance to invite the Creator of the universe and you to enter into your reality in a more relational way than ever before. And if your relationships with the people closest to you are not (and maybe never really were) at a level of transparency and connectedness that you hoped, it opens a chance to be something different (albiet often going through some tough conversations).
Essentially, what does it mean to apply a “life in process” mentality to our current crisis/ opportunity? Allow me to offer a few suggestions…
1. Don’t be afraid to see what’s there
Often we can be fearful to examine our reality. Remember, when you see problems as opportunities it brings hope to an otherwise hopeless situation. God rarely transforms us in areas we are completely unaware of. We need to surrender our struggles to God because He cares for us. As we invite Him in, the potential to become who we were always meant to be all of a sudden becomes a likelihood!
2. Confess what you are aware of
We typically make two errors here, we either take too much responsibility for the problem or we take no responsibility (we blame!) After you see what is truly happening, own what you can own! If it’s with God, confess to God where you’ve been seeking outside of Him. If it’s with a person in your life, own what you’ve been doing wrong, don’t make excuses for it, don’t explain why you think you acted that way (unless asked) – just own it. Confession can become a catalyst for transformation.
3. Take next steps
Part of the “life in process” mentality is to realize that none of us have arrived and none of us are perfect. Since, here at Life In Process we start with that premise that means we ALWAYS have a next step. You may not know how to bring all the needed change, you may not have a full plan laid out, but it’s likely you can think of one small step in the right direction. In my life I’ve found that lots of small steps in the right direction bring about some pretty incredible movement. The key is to be on the narrow way that leads to life and keep moving forward even when you’re scared.
In times like this, we have opportunities to grow forward and become who God made us to be (and may be actually leveraging this moment for such a purpose?)
