While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time – Jeremiah 33:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 1, 2020): Jeremiah 33

Lots of recent social media memes reinforce the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 the worst year ever. What might be even scarier are reports that the coming winter might be one of the darkest in modern history. There is no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way we view simple things. As I write these words, I am still minimizing contact with people outside of my family, choosing to work out of my home office instead of the one I usually work out of at the church. And of course, frequently washing my hands.

But, as bad as 2020 has been, it hasn’t all been bad. A recent poll reported that only about 8% of churches had seen a decrease in attendance during their move from physical services to online options. Just the fact that many companies and organizations have been able to make a move to online has been amazing. It is not that we wanted the pandemic, but organizations and companies have made adjustments so that they could keep chasing their goals despite the limitations. We have not curled up in a ball, cried “woe is me,” and entered a hibernation that has been imposed on us. Many have taken the pandemic in stride and just kept on going.

Jeremiah is imprisoned because the King didn’t like the message that the prophet was sharing with the city. It would have been easy for him to cry about the injustice of the situation forced upon him. He could have decided to stop what he was doing until the King decided to release him from his captivity. But instead, Jeremiah remains faithful to the message that God has given to him. And God keeps giving to Jeremiah a message to share, even though he is in prison. Just because the prophet’s circumstances were not ideal, did not mean that he gets to quit chasing the goal that has been placed in front of him.

And Jeremiah’s response should be one that encourages us. Regardless of our outer circumstances, there are still ways that we can be an encouragement to those around us. We can always find ways to love our neighbors and make a difference to those within our circle of influence. I would love to see our social media pages become a place where we encourage others, instead of a place where we share our conspiracy theories. We would all be so much better off if such a move were made a reality in our lives.

Even now, we can make a positive difference in our society and allow God to minister to his people, all of us. Now is not the time to hibernate. We can become part of a positive movement that affects our culture, even amid a pandemic, if it is something that we decide that we want to do.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 34