FRIEND. How are you doing? No, like really. How are you doing? I hope you can say “well”, but I understand if you just don’t feel like saying that right now. Reality is, this time of quarantine is a lot longer and crazier than I know most of us expected it to be, and we are only getting started. It’s a little overwhelming to think I have not REALLY been out or had normal life in over a month. Between the hospital and COVID… I have had a lot of time to sit at home. It doesn’t take long in the middle of a crisis to start questioning God. How is God good if people are dying and sick? How is God in control… but He hasn’t put an end to this madness?

Yesterday, I had to go to a baby appointment without my son or husband due to the virus. It was the one I had envisioned being really special for us – the ultrasound where Knox would see his brother on the big tv. But… instead, I walked in with a stranger and cried happy tears as I recorded it all for my boys to see when I got home. Small in the grand scheme of things… still a disappointment to what I had pictured for this season. But the good news: Baby R is perfect. He is healthy and measuring exactly to his due date. We are grateful for a healthy baby boy who is no longer breech and loves to move and groove in momma’s belly.

Here’s what I have learned as I have navigated a season of what has seemed like one disappointment after another: God’s character is NOT defined by how I feel. The quickest way to lose hope is to define Hope by our emotions or feelings about a situation. Likewise, the quickest way to experience peace is to look UP – to things unseen- and remind ourselves this is not our home, our hope is not found in things that will hurt or disappoint us, and God IS making all things work together for our good.

It’s that simple. So, I wanted to share with y’all a talk I did with our ladies at my church on Facebook Live a couple days ago. It’s real simple: Know what scripture says about who God is. And any moment you start to question it, remember these truths.

FACT: The character of god doesn’t change, no matter how quickly things change around you or how out of control things may seem. 

The quickest way to control our emotions when things feel out of control is to remember who GOD says He is… not how we FEEL He is

God is always..

1. Good 

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9

The MSG translation says “God is good to one and all; everything he does is suffused with grace.”

2. In Charge 

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and FOR him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16–17

3. Redeemer 

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. Galatians 5:1 The MSG

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. 1 Peter 5: 8-11 (The MSG)

4. Healer

This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong. Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing! You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25 (The MSG) 

5. The Hope Giver

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

But those who hope in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

6. Promise keeper 

The entire covenant and promises fulfilled through our the Old Testament into the birth of Jesus. … God is THE promise keeper. My devotional, The Best Gift Ever, breaks a lot of this down into simple truths.  🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and WILL NOT delay. Habakkuk 2:3

7. Gracious 

And my God will meet ALL your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

WHATEVER you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

8. Peace giver

You keep them in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on you, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The Lord will fight for you- you need only be still (silent depending on which translation) Exodus 14:14 

9. Unchanging

But you are the same, and your years will not come to an end. Psalm 102:27

10. Joy

Do not grieve. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10 

Side note: STRENGTH means protection/refuge. Because God doesn’t change- our joy is secure in what he’s ALREADY DONE and what His promises say! 

11. Provider

They all wait for you to give them their food in due season. You give them, then they gather it up. You open your hand and they are satisfied with good. Psalm 104: 27-28

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Matthew 6:26

I know, it’s a crazy world we are living in. These are completely uncharted waters our nation and our world is navigating, and I sure am glad I am not the one having to make mass decisions for people. However, I know in the middle of it all, there is a tension as believers that leaves us wondering, “But aren’t I called not to be afraid? And that God is bigger than sickness? And that perfect love casts out all fear?”

The answer: YES. Absolutely yes. 

I believe all those things to be true and at the very core of who we are called to be and what we are called to emulate in a time such as this- more than ever before. The world needs the Church, now more than ever. It needs your compassion, now more than ever. It needs your grace, now more than ever. It needs your hope, now more than ever. It needs your joy, now more than ever. Don’t stop living. Don’t stop sharing the Gospel. Don’t stop speaking truth.

However, I also believe there is wisdom to be found in the way we approach things. So, I wanted to first and foremost address how we, as Christians, move forward fearlessly but also in confidence and submission to what our government and healthcare officials are asking of us. When all of this first began to unfold, I was 1000% one of the skeptical thinking, “My gosh, surely this is an overkill. Like… come on.” But, as we see other nations navigate overpopulated hospitals and urging other countries to move quicker than they did to avoid being in the same position… there is wisdom in listening and learning. Read this article to see the statistics of how quickly the virus spreads! Not for the sake of fear, but it’s helpful information to know.

Scripture tells us these truths:

1. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
2. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
3. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
4. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-31

These, along with so many other scriptures, remind us God is sovereign, worthy of love and worship, in control, and He calls us not to be anxious. He calls us to cast our cares on Him because He cares (1 Peter 5:7). It reminds us not to approach trials in a spirit of fear, but rather of prayer and submission. Thus, being wise and taking the advice of our nation’s leaders to stay in and help avoid spreading this virus right now isn’t FEARFUL, but making wise decisions from a spirit of power, love, and self control. To love your neighbor as yourself means, “I wouldn’t die from this if I caught it… but what if somebody I come in contact with before I knew I had it COULD?” Love is sacrifice. Cancelling plans and “social distancing” feels weird and unnecessary when we look at the small picture of our own seemingly healthy life. But, big picture, it’s a big deal. As a pregnant woman with a son who has been hospitalized herself in the last two weeks and a son who has had RSV in the last month (because people were out sick!!)… we are at risk. And I am taking it seriously. And I appreciate others who are, too.

Don’t make brash decisions right now. You don’t need to hoard TP… come on people. You’re just taking from people who need some. You don’t need to treat this like doom’s day. BUT, be smart. Be compassionate. Be slow to reactions and choices you are making for your family. I can honestly say I am not afraid or paranoid. I know my God is good and in full control of all this. (I won’t lie, it’s even kind of nice being stuck at home more than usual with my family.) But I can play my part! I am guarding my baby in my belly at all costs and making certain my own family is healthy. I am making sure we don’t carry anything around for days that we might come in contact with while out, to the best of my ability, and unknowingly passing it to people who CANNOT fight off the sickness like we could before finding out we have it. That’s the issue at hand! It’s not living in fear we will all die, but it’s that if all of us live “life like normal” and carry around this virus, it will continue coming in contact with the people in our country who CANNOT live if they caught this. And, further more, our hospitals can’t provide the necessary attention or medical supplies if the virus were to multiply like it can (and has done in other countries!) at the speed in which it is capable of.

So all this to say: BE WISE. Will I have to leave my house some over the next few weeks? Absolutely. I have a company to run, clients to care for, and income to stabilize in the midst of all this. BUT we will be wise in the way we do it and cancel what we can. I will have to get groceries from time to time. I will go to my hair appointment at my bestie’s house. But I will also be aware, wash my hands, use my wipes to clean off anything I touch for the sake of others JUST IN CASE. It’s not paranoia, it’s being careful for the sake of other’s and their loved ones. I hope this helps you navigate these waters as a believer. Don’t make choices out of fear. If you find yourself operating in fear, then you need to slow down and evaluate. We aren’t called to that!

So… how do we make the most of this weird time? Glad you asked. 😉 I have come up with a list of things to do while you figure out this season together as a family!

Quarantine To-Do List:

1. Workout: I have said it before and I will say it again… the Obe App is so good! We won’t be going to the gym right now, because I am taking every precaution possible to avoid my son being in childcare for the foreseeable future and to care for my pregnant belly post-hospital stay. We’ve been sick non-stop since November, y’all. Literally non-stop. So, we have made this decision for our family. I don’t think it’s crazy to go to the gym, but if you’re high risk or simply wanting to stay at home, then this is a great option for you!
2. Hell0Fresh: Have HelloFresh meals delivered to your front door! It not only is a cost-efficient way to feed your family, but it also gives you something to do together. I love having the whole family in the kitchen as we make dinner! Use my code “THECAKE10” for a killer discount!
3. Spring Cleaning: Now is your time to do all that deep cleaning! Tackle each room on different days of the week. Office on Monday, Nursery on Tuesday, Kitchen on Wednesday… Etc. Clean the floors, base boards, fan blades, dust furniture, wash the fridge shelves, throw out food, purge unnecessary items, organize drawers, swap winter for spring wardrobe… Do it all!
4. Donate: We have bags and bags of clothes to donate to our local Goodwill from cleaning out our closets over the last couple of weeks. The best news is that they have a drive-through! So literally you can just drive up and let them take the bags out of your car. EASY.
5. Grocery Store: Okay, so let’s face it. We gotta get our groceries. Just go to the store and be wise! Costco is the bomb and literally is wiping down entire carts for people as they walk in- like… it’s required, not offered. I took Knox but we chose for him to sit in a stroller facing me rather than being in the cart like usual. Not necessary… but again, we are being overly cautious because of the toll our bodies have taken this cold and flu season. Choose what is best for your family!
6. SHOP SMALL: Small businesses are taking the biggest hits in a time like this. Family-owned restaurants, boutiques, etc. Shop on-line, order food to-go from restaurants you know are taking full precautionary measures in their space, buy gift cards to use for later. There are so many options! The Cake Shop is clearing shop for spring and summer, and the last of our cozy winter pieces are the perfect addition to your long days at home ahead. 😉 Every single buy from the shop makes me happy dance and I am truly so grateful for each and every one of you. Please consider purchasing a tee or sweatshirt that helps spread kindness like buttercream frosting AND keeps this corner of the internet running.
7. Work On Your Front Yard: We just had our flower pots done by Ready, Set, Grow (they are a local small business you can support!!), and now I am ready to start raking and weed killing!
8. Quality Time: Don’t be hard on yourself. Having your kids home for the week (possibly longer) is unexpected and definitely going to throw off all of your routines. You don’t have to be Miss Frizzel. Give yourself grace. You don’t have to have a ton of amazing things for your kids to do. You don’t have to have a ton of amazing Pinterest-worthy moments and DIY sensory projects as a family. Include them in the things you’re doing, snuggle and watch your favorite movies together. Play boardgames. Go on a walk. Keep it simple and take advantage of extra time together. Shift your perspective and make the most of it.
9. Self-Care I have a bath bomb that has been waiting for such a time as this… lol. I can’t wait to take a bath and soak in time to slow down. Un-used face masks, painting my nails, and other TLC in my cabinets will be put to use, too.
10. Community Love: Bake cookies for friends (if you’re healthy!), text friends and be intentional with your extra time (despite the lack of face to face time right now), download the Marco Polo App and talk all day long (I do this with my besties!!). Love extra on your friends who are nurses and doctors, working tirelessly right now in the middle of all the craziness. Have food sent to them! Have cookies delivered! Have flowers delivered! ANYTHING. Let them know you’re thinking of them.