One of the things that I’ve realized over the past several weeks is how much I need a routine in my life. While some may hate the thought of doing the same things at the same time week after week, I really enjoy it. The first few weeks of social distancing were hard for me because of this, and I spent most of my time in them wishing for things to return to normal as quickly as possible, desiring to get back into a rhythm that my normal routine gave me. But God graciously changed my perspective and allowed me to slowly see the opportunities around me because of this change in pace and schedule that I had been overlooking. For me, this time has served as another great reminder of how my plans and God’s plans are often very different. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” This is a truth that today I’m especially thankful for. While it is frustrating to make plans and not be able to carry them out, it’s so fulfilling to look up and see that our God, who is all-wise and all-knowing, loves us enough to direct and establish our steps, and that those steps lead to something so much greater than any goal or plan we can set in our minds. I’ve had several great conversations with people over the past few weeks about things that God has been teaching and revealing to them through all of this. If you haven’t taken the time yet to reflect on how things have changed around you, and the good that has come from that change, I think that you’ll find a lot of benefit from it.
