Elizabeth Hughes
Places around the world are starting to reopen and slowly come out of social isolation, most of us are adjusting to changes in our work lives, finances and living styles. Here are a few things we can pray about as we adjust to this new season and learn to trust God during this unpredictable time.
Changes in Work
Most of us have had to make some changes in our careers because of the pandemic. Some of us have switched to working from home indefinitely or are slowly going back to work with new precautions in place. Instead of going back to the way things were, most of us have settled into the realization that we will have to adjust to a new normal. As we reflect on changes in our work life, let’s pray and ask God to help us work well despite these changes.
. Pray that God would help you to be flexible and adapt to changes in work so you can still remain productive.
. For those who lost jobs and have taken on new work or for those having to work extra, pray for God’s help to adapt to these new changes and trust that He has good plans for you despite these setbacks.
. For those still having to manage their work schedule alongside taking care of kids or elderly relatives, pray for wisdom about how to juggle these dual responsibilities as well as the physical and emotional strength needed for both tasks. For those who had to give up their work to become a full-time caretaker, pray for trust in God in this unexpected season, knowing that God still has good plans for your future, and also give thanks for the extra time now spent with loved ones.
Ultimately, all our work is from the Lord, as we read in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Let’s see these changes in our work life as an opportunity to think and pray about whether God is working through us so we can glorify Him in our work.
Changes in Finances
A big factor to changes in work has also been the changes in our financial income. Many now have to deal with decreased work hours leading to a decrease in income. Our smaller paychecks have not necessarily resulted in a lower cost of bills, rent or mortgage each month as well, easily putting extra anxiety on us about how we will be able to pay. It is important to not turn to fear or hopelessness but to pray and trust in the Lord for Him to provide.
. Pray and trust the Lord to provide any needed finances in spite of pay cuts, furloughs, job terminations and businesses going under.
. Pray for His wisdom to re-work our budgets and possibly cut out unnecessary spending in this time so we can afford to pay our bills each month.
. Pray for contentment, trust and joy in God even in this season where our budgets are tighter and we may need to live with less.
Being content is a big part in following and trusting the Lord. Despite our current financial hardships, it’s a good reminder to us as Christians to, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). No matter what happens to us, God will never abandon us.
Changes in Living Style
Overall, our way of living has changed drastically due to COVID-19. For many of us, our homes are still taking on many roles: our living space, kids’ classroom, play space, workout area, office, etc. Going out into public still requires a mask. And meeting with friends face-to-face is something we still have to be much more careful about than before. Even as churches slowly start to reopen, times of worship and fellowship will still require physical distancing, masks and sanitation procedures. Though our communities are reopening it doesn’t mean we are going back to the way things were. We are still left with much uncertainty about what the future will look like. More than ever, it is an ideal time to come to the Lord about our concerns and anxieties.
. Pray for your living space, that the Lord will help you continue to make it work well for you and your family in light of any new challenges that might come up.
. Pray for discernment about how to move back into face-to-face meetings with friends and family as our communities slowly reopen.
. Pray for churches to be able to worship and fellowship together naturally even with all the new precautions.
Also, be honest with the Lord about any disappointments and unmet expectations you may have. We might not be able to understand why our lives have had to change in this way, but we can be certain that, “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Let’s remain hopeful, prayerful and always trusting in Him no matter what comes our way.
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