Surprise! After three and a half COVID-free years, I had just tested positive. I had hoped that I would continue to be one of the few who would not contract COVID, but it was not to be. I had been as reasonably cautious as anyone in wearing a mask when recommended and in getting all of my vaccinations. With an upcoming trip, I had been trying for two weeks to schedule an appointment for the most recent booster, but the supply was delayed. Irony of all ironies, the day that I was finally able to get an appointment was the day that I tested positive. It was too little, too late!

Several days of self-isolation and feeling ill gave me time to think over some things. When I had done all that I could reasonably do to avoid exposure and illness, why did I still contract COVID? My primary thought was that God doesn't make mistakes and that He knows every valley and rough patch that we will encounter on our life's journey.

Psalm 1:6a – For the Lord watches over the path of the godly. (NLT)

Proverbs 2:8 – He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. (NLT)

Then I thought about Job and his trials. Job never really knew all that was going on behind the scenes in his testing, but he steadfastly trusted God nonetheless. Not only did Job's faithful trust in God set Satan back on his heels with respect to the accusations that he was flinging at Job, but Job's trials also strengthened him.

Job 23:10b – And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. (NLT)

Part of the reason for our trials, I believe, is to see how we will face them. Will we be angry, accusatory, self-pitying, defeated? Or can we accept the bad things in life along with the good? My recent bump in the road was bearable because I could trust that it was part of the pattern that God is weaving into my life.

Despite the inconvenience and discomfort of my illness, I can still find reasons to be grateful in my recent "trial". I can be grateful that I got COVID far enough down the road that it was unlikely to be deadly. I'm grateful that I likely had enough remaining immunity in my system to prevent a harder case. And I'm thankful that the timing was such that I could still go on my trip. So, as in most of life, there are both good parts and bad parts to much of what we experience.

A question to think about: Are we willing to accept both the good and bad in life, knowing that our all-knowing God is also all-loving?

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, when we hit rough places in our life's journey, may we fully trust You, knowing that our faith will grow stronger as our trust grows. Amen.

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About the author:

Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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