Don't Give Up!

The entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

— Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

As I turned to the night's reading in The Upper Room, I saw the words, Remember Me. All of a sudden, grief from losing my dad a little over a month ago and the uncertain times of being self-isolated because of the coronavirus outbreak broke free. The only words I could mutter were, "I don't understand." After regaining my composure, I began looking for the night's reading and was directed to Galatians 6:2-10. As I paged through my Bible, I took notice of words I had written there: "I am a child of God." I then looked at the words underlined, "So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith" (Gal. 3:26). I then turned to the assigned reading for that night and noticed written at the top to the page, "forbearance...patience." As I read the selected reading, I was inspired by God to not give up as I read these words: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal. 6:9-10). 

In a time of uncertainty, our faith can be shaken. But God is still here and with us. We may not understand the why of this pandemic, but through forbearance, God will see us through. Let us love one another and help heal and unite our world.

Prayer: Help us to have patience, O Lord, and to trust in your ways. Amen.

Brandie Y. Barndt (Pennsylvania, USA)