Nobody would have even predicted or chosen the ‘new normal’ that we are all living in here in 2020. Words and phrases like ‘shelter in place’, ‘toilet paper shortages’ and ‘face masks’ are now a part of our daily vernacular. But in the midst of all of the turmoil, we do have an opportunity to grow and draw closer to Jesus. 

In life there is always a ‘space between’. It’s a gap between who we are and who God wants us to be. That gap is filled with God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness, and it’s our task to trust God and step into that gap. In these ‘crisis day’s’ we are all perilously standing on the edge of that Gap, leaving our own lack of trusting God on full display. Before the crisis I fully believed that my trust was in God. But with the stock market crumbling, jobs becoming insecure and constantly worrying about the health of my family and loved ones, I’ve had to reassess. Where is my trust? Do I really believe that no matter what, God has a plan and a purpose? If everything crumbles, is my heart His and do I believe that He will work ‘all things for the good of those who believe’? 

I’ve honestly come up short. And I am counting it as a gift, an opportunity from God to trust Him more. But how do we get there? How to we shorten the ‘space between’ who we are and who God wants us to be?

For me it’s been simple; prayer. Gut level, heart-laid-bare, prayer. Inviting God into my world, my heart and my soul like never before. Asking Him for the grace to want Him more. Asking for the eyes to see my own brokenness and allowing Him to heal it, as only He can. Thirsting for intimacy and receiving the gift that God thirsts for me as well.

At the end of this ordeal, I don’t want to be the same. I want the space between who I am and who God wants me to be, to be shorter by a mile; no 10 miles! I want to be so far down the road that I don’t recognize the ‘me’ I was when this whole thing started. I want to be broken and trusting, with the eyes of my heart wide open; that is what I want and I pray that you want that too. 

Kevin Avery  

BONUS: Check out this interview Kevin and Taylor did with Pastor Andy Stanley regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic: