Isolation is a difficult emotion to navigate. I’ve been wrestling with it. Not because I’m lonely, although I know so many out there are feeling a deep sense of loneliness during our shelter in place, and for you my heart goes out. For me, I’ve got a busy house of five, and we’re actually enjoying the company of one another most of the time <giggle>. Even though I cannot wait for normalcy to resume, I’m really doing ok with being homebound. My feelings of isolation are rather a little more like feeling out of place. Let me explain.
In my home, in my family, I’ve wanted things to look one way in our quarantine, but my family members want it to look another. We have different ideas about how this “shelter in place” should be done, and what we should do with our time. This began to bother me, I mean REALLY bother, to the point I was becoming bitter as I watched family members choosing this or that (and not choosing this or that). I went to bed with these feelings last night, hoping that by morning God would give me a new perspective that would change my thinking. If I didn’t have a change of thinking, I may, in foolish fashion, explode on them, my family. We all know how ugly that can get. The last prayer on my lips before I feel asleep was a plea for help. It was no surprise that when the dawn emerged and the earliest morning light woke me up this morning, the following verse was on my mind. God is so good to me like that.
The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1
I know there are others who are wrestling with many different feelings right now, for a variety of reasons. When the walls of your home are caving in, if you’re feeling defeated for one reason or another, if being out of routine has you grumpy, when the stress of the crisis has taken residence, when worry for the future sets in, or fear of the unknown grips you, it is pretty normal to become irritable, frustrated, and aggravated. Sadly, those we love the most can become the object our venting. They take the fallout, whether it’s their fault or not. The truth is, in this crisis there is a real danger to not walk in love. There is a serious threat to not walk in grace.
The word this morning for me, may also be a word for you as we continue to live closely, side-by-side with our families for the unforeseeable future: BUILD.
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(banah | verb) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue, to build a house (i.e., establish a family).
I got the deep sense that this was an assignment. I am to build up, establish, cause to continue. I have an essential role for as long as the crisis lasts.
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Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1
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Wisdom has built her house. Proverbs 9:1
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Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3
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And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
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My mindset was changed, thankfully. I said YES to the assignment, and with the Lord Jesus as the Master Builder, I will become His co-laborer. I will build my house, as a wise woman, with His help. I will do things His way. Until the storm passes, I will wait on the Lord, loving my family and building.
And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Psalm 39:7
