Staying Hopeful at Home: Lessons in the Lockdown

Unless you are deemed an essential worker of some sort, you are probably heeding the

warnings and staying at home during this Coronavirus crisis. While at home, you are

probably experiencing frustration, fear, and anxiety that come from a combination of

the social imbalance the lockdown has created, and an excessive input of news and

information from various sources. A repeated theme I hear is the sense of

hopelessness people are beginning to feel as they consider the immediate and future

ramifications of this situation. The question that then faces us, is how do we stay

hopeful in a seemingly hopeless global crisis? How are we to make the best of this time in history, living in hope, whether at home or still going out to work, or even if out of work? Here are a few suggestions (well, some are more than suggestions),

which I pray will help you, if applicable.

1. Tend to the spring of hope—your heart, mind and soul:

Hope is a matter of the heart, mind, and soul. The Bible says in Romans 15:13, “Now

may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This is a time to overflow with hope, not with fear and hopelessness. And God is ready to fill us with joy and peace so that we abound with hope, by the power the Holy Spirit supplies. How can we have this hope on a daily basis? The only way is by setting ourselves apart to Him every day, reading the word of God and praying, and so finding the Lord set apart in our hearts, thus being filled with hope. Peter said, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Pet. 3:15). That hope comes from reading the word of God and praying to God based on His word, is made clear throughout scripture. For example, the Psalmist said, “Remember the word to Your servant, on which You have made me hope” (Ps. 119:49).

What a privilege for us to spend extended times with Lord, reading His word and

going to our knees in prayer! This is the most important way to stay hopeful, without

which the other suggestions are moot points.

2. Stay disciplined—schedules and goals:

How easy for us to drift off into a lazy, pointless and unproductive mode because we

are at home more than usual. We can keep from this by maintaining some form of a

daily schedule. A list of simple and realistic goals for the day is also a help. If you want

to be a blob, then at least be a blob that knows it’s being a blob for a while and knows

what it will do after blob mode ends! If we have some framework within which we manage this extended time at home, it will keep us from an unnecessary intake of info

that tends to make us hopeless, and will also keep us from “schedule shock” once

normalcy is restored. Lastly, it will add a quality and meaningfulness to times of

extended rest.

3. Learn—read books, watch videos, listen to sermons:

For most of us who are staying at home, social media and news media tend to be our

go to sources of input. That’s helpful. But too much is harmful. Instead, read good

books. That reading list that has been growing over the last few months (or years!)

beckons. The treasures that good books can yield especially during trials are precious.

Then there are worthwhile videos and movies. Be picky: does it waste my time? Does

it cause me to know God more, or care for people more, or make me wiser and more

intelligent? Does it inspire or stir the imagination positively? Then there are some

anointed men of God that the Lord has blessed this world and His Church with,

whose sermons are worth listening to (there are also some that are not!) during these

times. This is a time to learn about God, ourselves, and the world—a time which will

not return. Make the most of it: learn!

4. Exercise and Enjoy—stay physically active and have fun:

This can also be a time of relaxation and fun: those indoor recreational activities like

playing a musical instrument, listening to good music or playing board games. Also,

have you seen those memes/pictures/videos of what people and animals will look like

after the lockdown is lifted? For some people, the joke could be on you, if, that is, you

don’t tend to your physical body. If we are going to be mostly sedentary, our

metabolisms will drop, and we will tend toward depressive states of mind. Movement

is necessary. Your gym may be closed, but there are creative ways to move and

exercise at home. (This would be a good time to pull out those as-seen-on-tv exercise

contraptions you bought but never used!) The point is, don’t lose good health over

this lockdown. Eat well, rest well, stay active, stay safe.

5. Stay isolated, yet connected:

The buzz-phrase of this time is “social distancing!” The call to stay isolated is clear,

whether to keep from getting the virus or giving it to someone else. We are isolating

and quarantining. But we can still be connected: first with those we live with at home,

and then with those outside our homes. God in His mercy made sure that we have all

the hardware and software we need to stay connected with each other before He

allowed this virus to breakout. Let’s use the gift of technology we have, to stay connected with friends, family, and fellow believers around the world. Fellowship may

be virtual for a while, but it’s worth it.

6. Repent and reconnect:

For many, this is doubtless a time to reflect. It may be a time God is showing us some

sin that we kept ignoring in our busyness. It could be that God is saying, “Finally, I

have your attention on this issue.” You alone know your sin and how God is speaking

to you about it. This is a time to repent of our sins collectively and individually. It may

also be a time for relational restoration. Perhaps the sin you need to repent of is

unforgiveness. You have cut yourself off from someone for whatever reason and need

to forgive them and be reconciled. Or perhaps you are someone who needs to ask for

forgiveness. Who knows if you will get another chance, or if they will? Our cry to

God in these days of plight is “Lord, have mercy!” We must not forget, however, that

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7)

7. Finish what you started:

This season at home may be the time for you to prayerfully defeat the demon of

procrastination. Projects, assignments or jobs that we began and left half done, or

things we said we would begin but did not, can be redeemed. Perhaps we gave

someone a word and reneged on it. This is as good a time as any to come good on our

word and work.

8. Show compassion and kindness:

Our hearts are touched by the sacrifice of doctors, nurses, and other medical

personnel who are on the frontlines of battling this virus at the risk of their own lives.

In many cases, it is sheer compassion on their part. What can we do while at home?

Well, charity begins at home. Staying with the same folks everyday does not give us

the right to be ornery. Let’s show kindness and compassion to our family members

and neighbors. Then there are innumerable poor and needy folk, who are especially

vulnerable during this time. There are people with homes, but without jobs. There are

also people without both homes and jobs. Please don’t hoard but share your groceries

and supplies with those in need. If you can’t, consider donating to trustworthy

charitable organizations that can.

9. Reset—Reevaluate and Reorder:

If you ask me for a caption statement for this global Corona crisis, it would be this:

God has pressed the reset button. Let us not resist. Rather, with God’s help and in the light of His Word, the Bible, let us reevaluate our lives and see if they are pleasing to

God or not. And if not, let us be wise and obedient in reordering them to please God.

For many of you, however, the Coronavirus chaos is a wakeup call, for you do not

know what your tomorrow holds, neither do you know the One who hold your

tomorrow—the eternal One who can grant you eternal life through His Son, Jesus

Christ. If you have never had the assurance of your sins being forgiven and the

security of Heaven being granted you, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. He will

forgive you, heal you, fill your heart and home with such purpose and hope today,

that only keeps getting brighter in the face of darkness and despair, until you finally

reach your home in Heaven with Him, where all the hope of humanity will be

perfectly met, and eternally fulfilled.

© Kenny Damara, 2020