It Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better

We are in the process of re-designing our garden. As is the norm at High Winds, our beautiful house constantly throws us unexpected challenges. We thought we were just about ready to install some trellis fencing and an archway to shape and tidy up the front of our property; but when Reuben dug down to put the fence posts in he discovered a driveway buried under our lawn. Not quite the archaeological find we were hoping for (my Dad was hoping to find some Roman ruins lol). So, our progress has been slowed and instead of the garden looking great, it now looks pretty rough. The earth has had to be removed so the old drive can be dug up before the soil is put back and the fences put up. It looks bad, but we can see how beautiful it is going to be in the future. Reuben has shown us the plans and we can picture what it is going to be like when it is finished. Keeping that end goal in sight helps us to think positively about the current mess and enjoy the progress that is being made.

Things will get worse before they get better, but they will get better.

It made me think about the current situation the world is facing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Things are very likely to get worse before they get better, so how can we be resilient during these times? Keeping the big picture in mind can be helpful. Being confined to our houses can feel uncomfortable. Challenges with shopping and finances can be a real worry, added to the worry about the virus itself.

We have to create a mess to get the driveway out before we can put it all back together. The lock down is kind of like that. It is messy, but creating that mess is what is going to help us reach the end goal - to have the virus under control and to keep as many people safe as possible. Things may look like they are getting worse, but they will get better.

It’s day 3 of lock down and so far, so good.

We have:

· Sat in the garden chatting and soaking up the sunshine while the kids pretended to be wild stallions that climb trees??!!

· Enjoyed exercising in the church room and helping the children to do handstands.

· Home school has continued as normal. We have made a skeleton out of playdoh; made a spine out of cotton reels, shoelace, and foam; labelled the skeleton on paper, learned about the history of the church; worked on English and Maths; sat in the garden to draw a tree; and made cereal bars.

· Enjoyed our daily walk for our ‘out of the house exercise time’.

· Also enjoyed watching T.V which we hardly ever have time for, so that feels like luxury.

· Rescued a bumble bee.

· Met together for prayer and worship each evening.

I am so grateful to be in ‘isolation’ with nine other people! I am also really grateful to have a God who looks after us. I can honestly say that the Lord prepared us before hand for this time without us even realising what He was doing. We have everything we need. We are healthy and we have peace.

There is a promise in the bible that says:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

God did not create the Coronavirus. It is the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy; but God is greater than the devil. Jesus conquered death when he died on the cross and proved it by coming back to life. Resurrection is the ultimate victory over death. God is so much greater than any of the troubles we might face; and He promises to work all things together for good. He will take every negative situation, every trauma, every pain and turn it around to bring something good out of it. This is the promise that He makes to His children, to those who have received Jesus as their Saviour.

So, I want to encourage you. In the midst of the chaos, fear and loss, what good can you see? In my garden I can see robins, blackbirds, pigeons, squirrels, trees, blue sky and I can feel the warmth of the sun. I can hear my children laughing. I can see Reuben digging out the driveway and I can see the garden plans slowly beginning to take shape. There is a lot of good amongst the mess and it is focusing on those good things, no matter how small that will keep us strong.

Look at what you have, and dream of the joy of being with other people again when we are allowed out. We will get through this and we will get through this together.