The Coronavirus and its impact will be with us now and reverberate well into the future. Drastic measures have been taken all over the globe trying to manage this pandemic. From a faith standpoint, serious questions remain: Where is God in this crisis? How could a good God allow something like this? How will people survive the financial ramifications of the Coronavirus?

To try an enter into the mind of God is dangerous territory. Psalm 115:3 says, “Our God is in Heaven; He does whatever he pleases.” Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Rather than trying to explain what God’s rationale may or may not be (which would prove futile!), I wanted to share some opportunities that God may be giving His followers in the midst of this situation. It’s often in the darkest times that God’s glory shines the brightest.

Consider the following 10 opportunities that God may be giving you and your family in these days.

1. Seeing the mercy of God where others may not: Children seem to be spared of most of the worse symptoms. Technology and internet providers allow us to stay virtually connected inside the walls of our own homes. Families and individuals are re-prioritizing what’s most important. People may be more open than ever to engage with God and the Gospel during this time of uncertainty through spiritual conversation.

2. Equipping and encouraging family worship: Families who don’t normally gather physically in churches may be more willing to engage in worship in a family setting.

3. Creativity to try new things in showing love to neighbors in ways that we thought otherwise impossible.

4. Tangibly being the hands and feet of Jesus in our local communities, especially for those who are most in need. Schools, families, elderly, and community leaders are in desperate need of support. Many who are unable to work will have more flexibility to offer whatever assistance may be needed.

5. Prolonged weeks of not being able to meet physically together inside the walls of the church may stir people’s hearts and their desire to gather again—this time with much more anticipation and fervor.

6. God showing up in unexpected ways. Look for ways to catalogue how God has shown up in your life.

7. Connecting more to God through His Word. With more time and more of a heightened spiritual awareness, people may be willing to dig into God’s Word and encounter a dynamic relationship with Him.

8. Less reliance on self/healthcare/money and more reliance on God. The rapper Lecrae recently tweeted: “We haven’t lost control of our lives; We’ve lost the illusion we were ever in control.”

9. Finding and using your spiritual gifts. God has given every believer gifts to be used to build up and encourage His Church. I Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Your God-given gifts are needed now more than ever to encourage and equip His church.

10. God drawing people to Himself. Jesus says to every person reading this post, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

I’m praying that in these chaotic days the constancy and faithfulness of God will give you and your family an unshakable hope and peace.

Receive this benediction from Numbers 6:24-26 as God’s gift to you: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”