Daily Devotional 4/3/20

Hi, First Methodist! I’m Beth Garza, the director of Worship Arts. Many of you know that I have twin boys that recently turned eight years old. We have been homeschooling with them (and our daughter, who is seven) for the past three weeks because of the virus, and it has been HARD. They miss school, their friends, their activities, sports, church… you name it, and they miss it. Andrew, one of my twins, looked at me yesterday and said, “Are we EVER getting out of the house again?” He was so sad and so serious!

It reminded me of when I first became a mom to my twin boys. It wasn’t easy — feedings every three hours around the clock, minimal sleep, twelve bottles a day, and lots of visitors. I had these two precious, sweet bundles of joy that depended upon me for everything. I was completely in love and completely overwhelmed. One day, when the boys were about six weeks old, my mom came into my room and found me weeping in my bed. When she asked what was wrong, all I could articulate was that I couldn’t figure out when and how I would leave the house EVER again! It was mind-boggling to me. It was our new normal and I hadn’t figured it out, yet.

Pastor Kurt has been talking to us about God meeting us where we are. As a new mom, God met me there. He reminded me that He gave us the children for which we prayed so desperately. He reminded me that He loved our boys more than we ever possibly could, which are comforting words that I cling to often.

Over time, we found our new normal. The boys got past the newborn stage, I got some rest, and we figured out life as a family of 4. Then, as a family of 5! Pretty soon, things got “as back to normal” as they could when you add new members to your family!

As we are entering our third week of social distancing and quarantining, how are you feeling? Does it seem like it will never end? Maybe you find yourself like my son, Andrew, thinking “Are we EVER going to get out of the house again?” In this crazy time, I find hope and comfort in these words from Romans: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:12-13

 

Questions of the day:

  1. How might God be inviting you to live out Romans 12:12-13 today?
  2. How can you practice patience and remain hopeful with your family, in your situation, today?

 

Prayer: 

Dear Lord,

Today I will not let fear or worry consume my life. Instead, I will wait patiently for Your peace — the peace that comes from You and transcends all understanding, and I will guard my heart and mind. I thank You in advance for allowing me to feel peace and remain patient. Amen