As a little girl, I used to do ballet lessons. I wasn’t particularly good at it, but enjoyed every minute of it nonetheless. I remember two very specific things I was taught in ballet class:
As a ballet dancer, you will be required to hold different poses and positions which requires you to stand on one leg, balancing the rest of your body as you move and dance. I remember our ballet teacher telling us that when you balance on one leg, you need to make sure you hold that leg very straight and lock your knee securely. That way it anchors the rest of your body.
The second thing we were taught is that, when you are spinning around, you need to keep your chin up, focus your eyes on a spot in front of you and make sure that you keep your eyes on that spot as long as possible while turning, and quickly return your focus to that same spot as soon as you spin around. That way you would not become so dizzy.
At present our country of South Africa, together with many other countries, are in lock-down in an attempt to slow down the Corona Virus pandemic which has swept across the nations of the world. It has left people, families and nations reeling under the chaos it has brought about. When news broke regarding the lock-down, our routines, plans and in some cases, dreams, were put on hold. Traveling plans had to be cancelled in a hurry. Special precautions were immediately taken to prevent the spread of the virus and food retailers couldn’t keep up with stocking their shelves as people flooded the shops to prepare for isolation. Things seemed to be spinning out of control.
This morning I was contemplating how the things my ballet teacher taught us many years ago could be helpful principles to apply in our lives in this season. Fear is the prevalent emotion I see all around – even among Christians! And yet, as God’s children, we have a secure Anchor that will never give way even in the toughest storms! Psalm 18:2 (NIV) says, “ The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” We need to remember to anchor ourselves in God, and in the certainty of His love and protection. “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” – Ephesians 3:16-18 (NIVUK). When our spirit man is strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and when we know we are rooted in God’s love, we are secure and remain steadfast amidst uncertainty. He is our refuge in any fearful, uncertain situation we may face in our lives.
Furthermore, we need to evaluate where our focus is at a time like this. Social media, television and every other media platform is constantly flooded with news on the COVID-19 virus. It is uppermost in the minds and conversations of everyone. It is the focus of every news channel and communication platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc. Everything is in a sense spinning and revolving around this.
The truth is that God has not been caught off guard by this virus. God is still God and that will never change! As God’s children we should ask ourselves, “What is uppermost in my thoughts at the moment? What is the focus of my conversations, my thinking and my actions?” When we forget to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, being distracted and consumed by fear, we will be robbed of the peace that is available to us in the Lord. I love Isiah 26:3 (NLT): “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” When our thoughts are fixed on the Lord as our focal point, His peace keeps our hearts steadfast and at rest.
There is ALWAYS a bigger picture that we are not able to see from our perspective, but God already knows the end from the beginning. Therefore, trusting Him, resting in Him and making Him and the many promises in His Word my focus, makes so much sense.
“I (Jesus) am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27 (NLT)
Thanks for the good stuff! X
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