Finding Hope During COVID-19

Two months ago I was restless. Well…kind of. 

I did not want to shower, work out, or do my “job” around the house consisting of laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. I found it hard to get out of my oversized chair. I could put on a good show for the “public” but at home, if I had a boss, I would have been fired for not getting my tasks done in a timely manner or whatsoever.

I had recently applied for a job and my HOPE meter was off the charts. It was something I deeply desired and I would catch myself daydreaming with God on how I could impact people through my gifts. 

After the first round of interviews, they narrowed the applicants to just me and one other person. After a series of assignments, I was told I was not their final choice.

Hope seemed to vanish in that instant. It crushed me, my confidence, and my drive to move forward. That job had been a dream for a couple of years (even though it had not been created yet).

SHARING MY FEELINGS

I shared what was happening internally with my husband. He asked if I was holding my dream of working there too tightly. 

Wow! The floodgates opened and I wept. Yup, he nailed it, I was.

Right there I prayed that the Lord would take that desire from me…and it felt good.

Prayer was a HUGE part of our conversation that day. We began to pray that I would have favor in finding a job. We also prayed that if I was to get a job in my kid’s school district that it would be easy and seamless, no matter what the position. 

We talked at length about me pursuing teaching again. I had taught before we had kids, but I let my teaching license lapse. 

We decided that I should begin the process of renewal. Immediately my goal became completion of my CEU (continuing education units) by the end of March. I wanted to be prepared for job postings in April, for the following school year.

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

I finally had a goal, something to work towards. HOPE had returned! My attitude towards my “job” around the house shifted and I began to work out again. 

The Lord was so faithful to answer that prayer of mine. He put me on the fast track. That is to say, the timeline of events that followed could have given me whiplash if I stopped at any time. 

That was the middle of February. I am now a licensed teacher in my kid’s district with a contract to teach 7th and 8th grade science full time!

THE TIMELINE

Sunday we prayed. 

Monday I signed up for CEUs. 

Tuesday I signed up for graduate credits for the science portion of my license. 

Wednesday a good friend texted me and said that there was a position open at her middle school. I called the principal 20 minutes after her text to talk about the job. (What?!? Who am I, being so bold?)

Thursday I went in to meet both principals and the science teachers I would be working with. 

Friday we talked about my contract. 

Saturday I finished the graduate course I had registered for on Tuesday.

Monday I went in to meet the staff and to meet the teacher who I would be replacing. 

Thursday I went in to shadow the teacher and be introduced to the students. 

During that week, I worked daily, as if it was my full-time job, to get all of my CEU hours done. I completed all of them by Sunday night. 

I started the next day, Monday.

You guys, prayer works!

TEACHING

My first week was HARD. Some of the students were so difficult that I did not want to go back the following Monday. (I did have some pretty AMAZING students too!) The thought had crossed my mind, though not seriously, that I should quit. I toyed with the idea a few times. I mean, I had never experienced anything like this before. 

In my other teaching jobs, I was always given praise for my classroom management style and how I related to students. At one school, I had been asked to help bring a new initiative the state of Minnesota was starting, PBIS, into our school because of how well I worked with students and staff (ha, I am dating myself a little here).

Compared to my other jobs, this was not even remotely similar. At times, I felt like a fish out of water. 

What was happening? Had I lost my touch? 

But the ease of getting this job and how it seemed to be such a HUGE answer to prayer kept me going.

I decided to talk to the Lord about it. 

LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6

I did not fully understand what the Lord was doing in leading me to this teaching job. Sometimes He doesn’t let us see the big picture right away, so I was okay with “leaning not on my own understanding”. I firmly believe He works everything out for the good of those who love Him. I was on the lookout (Romans 8:28). 

So, Lord what are you thinking? What are your plans? I had so many questions.

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6

I prayed a quick desperate prayer, “Lord, I really want to quit this job. Help me!”

His response was interesting. This conversation happened on February 28, 2020. He said in response to my plea, 

“Emily, you are free to do what you want. You can quit. However, if you do, you will miss out on what I have for you when the state of Minnesota closes its schools. I want to take care of you and your family. When that happens it will get much easier for you.”

His response was confusing to me. But my history of the Lord sharing future events with me had me curious. I had a vague understanding of the events happening in China and slowly moving to the USA. Could the virus really be headed this way? I mean, life was basically normal in the United States.

I did not want to go against something the Lord had planned for me. However, He knew I needed a little more. So, that night I received very specific prophetic words about my role as a classroom teacher that gave me EXTREME pause about quitting. They were so specific to my situation and they were things that most people didn’t know.

I experienced revelation from the Lord that was crazy amazing. The God of the universe was pulling me in to see His face. He wanted my focus. I wanted to look at Him and nothing else. As I did that, my intimacy level with Him skyrocketed and my HOPE soared for what was to come.

I went back to work that Monday with a renewed hope. I couldn’t wait to see how the Lord was going to show up. I was calm. My peace was palpapul. No matter what happened, I fully trusted in what the Lord was doing. I went to work each day with a smile on my face, anticipating that I would see God in action.

MARCH 15, 2020

On spring break I watched the Governor of Minnesota announce he was going to close schools, in order to slow the spread of the virus. He did not come to this decision easily and wanted to make sure that all Minnesotans would be taken care of during this “unprecedented time.” 

However, I was in shock and absolutely amazed. 

The happenings in the world do not surprise God. He wasn’t caught off guard by this. With that said, I firmly believe that He did NOT cause this pandemic nor is He the author of it. It is NOT in His character. 

But (that is a BIG BUT) He WILL bring good from it. Romans 8:28 says,

“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him AND accept His invitation to live according to His plan” (Voice Translation). 

I love that it says EVERYTHING, that means even in this pandemic, the Lord will work out everything for good for those who love Him. We just need to be on the lookout. He is in it WITH US no matter what our circumstances are.

HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Now that I am fully vested in distance learning, it has been a challenge, but fun! I think back to what the Lord said to me when I wanted to quit, “I want to take care of you and your family when MN schools closed.” I am in awe! 

He is providing for my emotional health. Teaching has been a life giving source for me. Having something else to do OTHER than housework is AMAZING. He knew what I needed before I even did. It is just fascinating to watch it all unfold. 

Because all of my emotional needs are being met, I am also able to think about the community around us. As a family we are caring for the community and helping while still practicing social distancing.

Each one of us has a unique situation and, by no means, is this easy. The Lord doesn’t promise us a life without challenges, but He does say that He is our strength and with God ALL things are possible (Psalms 27:1, Phil 4:13, Matt 19:26…just to name a few).

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU

This time is like no other in history. We will look back and talk to our grandkids and our great-grandkids about what it was like to do social distancing and shelter in place, to run out of toilet paper, and talk to our friends through Zoom as our main way of communicating.

During this unprecedented time – We. Have. Time. Make time for God. Spend time in His presence. Read His word. PRAY!

When you seek the Lord, He is faithful to respond. He LONGS to speak and share His heart with you. Wouldn’t you LOVE to hear what He thinks? What does He have planned for you? He might want to rekindle an old dream that you have pushed away OR start a fire inside of you to pursue something new. 

We are told in scripture, that when you seek the Lord and find your delight in Him, He will give the desires of your heart, because they align with what He wants for you (Psalms 37:4). 

Maybe you need something from Him to get through this. Just Ask. I needed hope and He gave it. I needed my emotional needs taken care of and He provided a path. He ignited a fire deep in my spirit to go after a dream He had for me. He WILL do the same for you. Acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

GO AFTER GOD! Do it with your whole heart. You will find joy and be filled with a HOPE like nothing the world can offer. 

My testimony is the TESTIMONY OF JESUS. Revelation 19:10 says, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” He will do it again. 

Be Expectant!

CONNECTING

I would love to hear your stories of where you are seeing God at work during COVID-19. You can either share your story in the comments below or reach out to me through my CONTACT page. 

OTHER STORIES

I am not the only who the Lord shared His plans with during COVID-19. Check out the story in this podcast from Dare to Believe. They interview a man who had a dream about the pandemic in October 2019. Check out his story here.