He got the whole world in His hands

Global pandemics have a way of changing our focus. I'm sure I'm not the only person who knows someone who actually has the virus and is in serious condition. I'm sure I'm not the only person who had many plans canceled or changed due to Social Distancing, organizations canceling events or common sense to scale back on life and stay home. Many people feel anxious and overwhelmed.

But I have taken great comfort in the size of our God. Our childish song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" is actually a huge statement of faith. He has Bunny and her situation (which is still pretty much all consuming in my mind) just as cared for, even though He is also now hearing millions of prayers for the sick, those isolated and afraid, those losing income and not sure how to pay their bills and every other concern taking center stage in someone's life right now.

As I hear of increasing needs within my small group of friends and acquaintances, I can start to feel like I simply just can't pray for everyone. I'm bound to miss someone or something. I'm not even sure if my information is up-to-date and I am praying the right things. And yet - God isn't undone by my limitations. And my prayers aren't less sincere or heard, simply because I'm not always sure what to pray. While I can truly reach a place where my capacity is exceeded by current needs - God never experiences that. There is nothing in this world beyond His reach - there is nothing that goes unseen.

My prayer for Bunny while she is in a new place and we haven't received a phone call in days is no less heard than the prayer for someone fighting COVID-19, struggling to breathe...struggling to live. And those prayers are no less heard than the prayer of one struggling with anxiety, now isolated from their support systems. And those prayers are no less heard than the ones of behalf of everyone trying to have a positive attitude as their patience runs thin and they start to feel stir crazy.

I take great comfort in knowing that God doesn't rank our prayers in order of importance or simply ignore those that aren't as critical. He knows how critical they are to us - and He cares for each of our hearts.

Personally, I'm thankful for everything shutting down.

I'm thankful to have my boys home with me all the time, as we continue to process the last several months as a family.

I'm thankful that the whole world is on house arrest - and when Bunny comes home, she won't be the only one who spent the Spring of 2020 isolated, doing school online and separated from normal teen activities.

I'm especially thankful for all the people who have enough mental space to keep us in their prayers, even though each day brings new concerns and prayer requests.

I'm thankful He has the whole world in His hands.....