There is Hope

They call it “COVID Fatigue.”

The diagnosis looks something like this: 
COVID Fatigue may or may not result directly from a diagnosis of COVID-19, but is likely much more widespread than the virus itself.  COVID Fatigue occurs when a person reaches a breaking point with the persistently fluctuating flood of life changes because of the pandemic.  Those who suffer from COVID Fatigue often become listless and distant or filled with defiant frustration.  An attack of COVID Fatigue is regularly accompanied with exclamations of, “I’m done with this!” “Make it go away!” and “I want my life back!”

I made up that little diagnosis, but COVID Fatigue is very real.   Early on in the pandemic, many felt confident that we would be back to normal in weeks.  Now we’ve endured nearly 9 months of this with no end in sight.  We find ourselves settling into an unsatisfactory reality, filled with anxious uncertainties.  Over the last two months, I have witnessed every single member of our church staff struggle openly with COVID Fatigue, including myself. 

It’s easy to lose hope.

But isn’t that what Christianity is all about?  Hope.  God sent His son Jesus into this broken world so that we might have hope in the midst of the brokenness.  Our hope is that the death and resurrection of Jesus has healed our sinful hearts and restored our relationship with God.  Our hope is that we can represent what is good in the midst of a restless world.  Our hope is that Jesus will return one day and remake this world into what God intended from the beginning. 

Try something for me.  Search for “hope” in the New Testament.  People in that day had it rough and they needed hope too!  They were ruled by Rome whose emperor thought he was a god, pagan practices destroyed lives on a daily basis and the society did not think too kindly of Christians and their weird beliefs.  Call it Emperor Fatigue, Hedonism Fatigue, or Misfit Fatigue.  They needed hope and they found it in Jesus. 

Just read this passage from Romans 8:18-25.  It speaks to our fatigue.  My notes are in italics.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (when Jesus returns). For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God (that’s us!). For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God (who has given us the solution). For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now (with things like COVID). And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit (redemption through Jesus), groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (it’s not easy but keep hope alive)  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (no end in sight? more hope!)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, lift your eyes! 
There is hope.

Blessings,
Pastor Seabaugh