Covid-19 has introduced us to a new way of living. It has not been easy for us smilers and huggers. I have wanted to pull down the face mask a few times to reveal a real smile, and oh, the need to hug people has been real – especially if we haven’t seen some of our people due to quarantining. However, I know following the Covid-19 recommendations is doing what’s best for those around me. I’ve worn my mask and exaggerated my smiles – squinting my eyes so hard to show others I’m smiling BIG time. I’ve squeezed the air in front of me with great gumption six feet away from others to mimic how tight I’d hug them if only I could. I’ve adjusted. Social distancing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of Covid-19 or any other germs, so it’s the least I can do.
Just like social distancing stops the spread of germs, it can also slow down the spread of love, thoughtfulness, kindness, and all the other good things that point people to Christ and build friendships. In order to share the good stuff, we have to be intentional and creative. I’ll be the first to admit that learning new tricks in the middle of our busy schedules can be time-consuming and inconvenient. I have a dear friend that I haven’t been able to hug since long before Covid-19 guidelines were put into play, because she and her family have moved across the country. However, she is faithful to send the best hugs and genuine smiles through the United States Postal Service. I could really take pointers from her. She’s intentional about reaching out with her thoughtfulness. Making up for the lack of physical interaction could be a weekly text, phone call, card, delivery, or six feet apart coffee chat at the park. Whatever it is, while our arms can’t reach out, it is important to do what it takes to reach others. More people are experiencing anxiety, loneliness, and depression during these times. They need to feel included and know they are thought of. Social distancing to the point of isolation can be dangerous for the heart, body, and mind.
Social distancing becomes most dangerous to our souls when we distance ourselves from God.
What does social distancing ourselves from God look like?
- Praying or talking with Him less.
- Reading the Bible less.
- Skipping church more.
- Spending more time with the world while spending less time with Him and fellow believers.
Like our relationships with friends and family become distant when we talk less, take less interest in the relationship, and spend less time together, our relationship with God will become distanced too when we don’t make time and effort. He doesn’t move away from us. He’s patiently waiting for us to choose Him and spend time with Him. Instead, we step away, creating the distance.
What are the symptoms of social distancing ourselves from God?
- It becomes more difficult to hear from Him.
- We experience less peace and more anxiety.
- We look less like Him and more like the world.
As I prepared to write my share life article this week, I struggled significantly. I asked myself what God had been teaching me and sharing with me lately. I remembered our life group lesson from 1 Kings 18 in which God used the prophet Elijah, an altar of wet wood, a sacrifice, and a prayer on Mt. Carmel to reveal Himself as the one true God to the Israelites who had been social distancing themselves from the Lord and looking more like the world by believing in false gods. I prayed for a life story or illustration to share of how God was working in my life and a way to connect it to that recent Bible study. Then conviction shook my heart. I was struggling to share what God was speaking to me and teaching me, because I had not given Him opportunity to speak and teach. The only Bible study I had completed recently was the life group lesson I had prepared to teach. My conversations with Him had been shorter, less frequent, and more focused on me. With my hectic, chaotic schedule, I had begun unintentionally social distancing from God. I made more time for the demands of this world and less time for Him. And I had all the symptoms: I hadn’t heard from Him, I felt more anxious, and I looked more like this temporary, passing world.
He doesn’t love me any less, and He had not distanced Himself from me. Romans 8:38 and 39 in the Christian Standard Bible reads,
“For I am persuaded that neither death
nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor
things present nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing will be able to
separate us from the love of God that
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
If death, life, angels, rulers, present events, future events, powers, height, depth, or any other created thing cannot separate me from God, then I surely am not capable of separating myself from God’s love. However, my distance from Him was robbing me of the abundant life He offers in His presence.
I have challenged myself to be more intentional in reaching out to friends and family during this time of social distancing, and I have also challenged myself to run back into the full embrace of God. It’s too dangerous for my soul to social distance from Him. I don’t want to miss out on the goodness of His presence anymore.
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