In Episode #78, I am sharing ways that I have sought God in the past two weeks amongst what feels like the whole world falling apart. Hopefully this will help you find some purpose amidst all of this mess.

I FOUND A MOREL MUSHROOM ON MY PROPERTY
People search the world over for this. It’s a delicacy. A specific type of mushroom that grows in the wild. It’s highly coveted. I didn’t know about it until just a few days before I happened upon this delicacy growing in my back yard. My cousin had just told me about these as he was spending isolation time driving around trying to find these in the country. It’s delicious! You can fry it up or simply sauté it. It’s a flavor as mouthwatering as that of a perfectly grilled filet mignon. I had never heard of such a thing until someone told me about it. And it was right there in my backyard, waiting for me to taste and see that it was good.
As I was spending time in nature, observing this delicacy that I had just found in my backyard, it dawned on me, In the midst of the unknown, uncertainty, sadness, sickness, and fear, people needed to know how good this God is. They needed to know how to find a peace that passes understanding in the midst of what feels like the entire world falling apart around them. But what if no one has ever told someone about this eternal love that is waiting to be plucked right out of their back yard. People should know that this earth, this life, was never the end goal. The goal was for us to all know God and find an unending grace and mercy that leads us to an eternity of childlike joy in a place where there is no worry, sickness, stress, or anxiety. In a place where there are no pandemics.




HOW TO SEEK GOD IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC
GO TO GOD INSTEAD OF GOOGLE: Dig into the word. There are scriptures to guide you through every step of the way and give you peace.
3/10/20 BOOK LAUNCH CONFERENCE CANCELLED
Exodus 9:16 “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you MY POWER, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty Power.”
3/13/2020: My best friend was admitted to the hospital with 105 deg fever and the onset of what appeared to be COVID
3/17/20: BUSINESSES & SIZE OF GROUPS LIMITED, STARTED TALKING TO BECS
2 Tim. 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of POWER, love, and self control.”
1 John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

PRAY: Talking to God. Just like any other relationship, you must have communication, daily.
WOKE UP WITH PRAYER OF STEADFAST ON MY HEART
I felt like Noah and no one was listening to the warning that they needed to get on the Ark. I was irritated with people’s dismissal of the situation.
Col. 4:2-3 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open to use. Door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ…”
Col. 4:5 “Walk in Wisdom towards outsiders.”

GIVE THANKS: Even in the midst of a pandemic, there are things to be grateful for. Find the gratitude every day and thank Him for it.
PEACE AT THE POND
I sat at the pond, watching my husband and children fishing. Thinking about what a great day we had had, baking blueberry muffins, taking a walk to drop surprise goodies on neighbor’s porches, fishing, enjoying the sunshine. I thought how the list of things completely wrong in the world should vibe overwhelming at that moment, but I was at complete and total peace. I had accepted that the only thing I could control was what was happening in my immediate household. All I could do was love my family, provide as safe of a place as possible, and trust God that all of this was part of his plan.
Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but though PRAYER and SUPPLICATION with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

LAMENT: a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. God knows your heart. He knows your pain. He knows your fear. You are not hiding anything from him. Let him know. Question him. Talk to him. (Lamentations is a collection of poems describing the destruction of Israel)
I spent two days lamenting. As I would feel myself begin to crumble and fall apart on my husband or struggle to keep it together in front of the kids, I lamented. When I felt fearful as the breath would catch in my throat and chest tighten from panic, I lamented. When the tears welled up and I couldn’t hold them back any longer I lamented.
Lamenting is not simply crying or weeping in sorrow. But instead, it is directing our sorrows immediately to God. This is asking God why, asking God how, asking God how long it will last.
God wants is to lament. He wants us to come to him in our time of sorrow. Otherwise, we’re choosing to not lean on him in our pain.
David wrote Psalm 13: 1 “How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
In the midst of my lament. I found the morel mushroom.
SUPPLICATE: ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly. If you are struggling to trust God, humbly beg him for trust. If you are trying to control things out of your control, earnestly ask him to guide you in relinquishing control. And if you are finding it hard to fear not, ask him to help you to not be afraid.
Each time I woke up feeling the onset of anxiety and panic, I told God “I trust you.” You are in control. Help me to trust you. Help me to relinquish control. Help me to realize that which is not in my control. Your ways are not mine. Every single time I woke up.
As my husband was leaving for work and I was in full fear and panic, I repeated, I trust you Lord. I asked God to protect him, our employees, and everyone he would come in contact with that day.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.