TRUE Rhythms: Drawing Close to God in the Midst of the Pandemic
by Chantal Dube
COVID has been cruel. Social media has been cruel. The news has been cruel. It has impaired our perspective leaving us feeling depressed and anxious. Many of us have lost hope and are re-evaluating our ambitions.
Being in the event industry I’ve had a lot of time to re-think things. As a professional harpist, my performances came to a complete halt. Even my volunteer work in the hospital had been canceled. Much of my life is still not back to the way it used to be.
In Judges 6 God used Gideon to rescue the Israelites from the Midianites. Prior to their victory, the Midianites had completely overthrown them. God had allowed it because they were worshipping idols.
So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. ~ Judges 6:6 (NLT)
The Midianites had destroyed all their produce and left them with no substance. They were left to starve. In some ways this is what we experienced during the pandemic. COVID took the fruit of our labor. Things we once found value in, suddenly carried no value at all. Places we looked to be fulfilled, left us feeling more empty.
But there’s more for us than the idols we’ve created through work and the constant need to be known.
The pandemic has given us the gift of time to re-consider what we value.
I’ve come to learn God wants to bless us with much more than our selfish ambitions. He yearns to have a relationship with us that’s filled with hope and a future. When looking at sheet music, I see rhythm and melody. But most people don’t know how to read music, so they see random notes.
As you draw nearer to God and get to know Him, you will notice His rhythm is not random. You will learn to hear His voice.
Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. ~ Psalm 119: 57-61.
God, help us to surrender to your plans for our lives. Help me to ponder the direction of my life and follow You. Fulfill us with Your purpose for our lives. Keep us anchored in Your promises to us.
In the Potter’s hand,
Chantal Dube
Chantal is recognized as ‘Toronto’s Most Elegant Harpist.’ She’s a well-known recording artist with several albums and a frequent guest, on ‘100 Huntley Street’. She has also received credits for her work on Drake’s album, VIEWS. Chantal has been married to Dwaine for 20 years and is a mother of two beautiful children. You can follow her blog intheclay.co. or join her on Instagram and Facebook where she shares a 3min devotional weekly.