Choosing contentment even in a pandemic

During the months of having to “shelter-in-place” due to COVID-19, a friend mentioned that it felt like she was always having to say “no” to her kids. Things that were normally okay were now forbidden, dangerous, or not possible. We are used to the freedom of making choices. Not so in the midst of a pandemic where our choices are few and the response to so many options is “no!”

In many ways, the time of COVID-19 reminds me of 2011’s triple disasters in Japan. Within hours, life changed drastically. Store shelves were empty, schools and businesses closed, outdoor play was dangerous because of unknown radiation levels, and many people moved away for a time. For a while, it seemed as if each new day brought more bad news.

In February this year, I moved into a new neighborhood in the US and was looking forward to getting to know my neighbors, having church friends and students over to my place . . . you know, practicing hospitality like I did for years in Japan. But I didn’t have the freedom to do that for over three months. It was a real loss. Several of my English students flew back to Japan almost overnight—another huge loss because they were not simply my students but also my friends. My only Japanese friends in the area. It was as if I had left the country and people that I love all over again. What have you lost? What are people saying “no” to in your life?

How do we find contentment these days? I’ve been rereading the little book of Habakkuk. It speaks deeply to my heart as I’m grieving various losses.

What could have gone more wrong for the Israelites in Habakkuk? They had been overrun time and again by enemy forces, the crops had failed, and livestock were either dead or had fled.

Habakkuk wrestles with God, but also pays attention to the losses and doesn’t sugarcoat them. He names them and voices his own grief and the deep grief of his people. In chapter 3 verse 17, we read what Habakkuk had to say about life at that time—it was grim. Everything was going wrong, and he names it pretty clearly:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty” (NLT).

But after grumbling to God and naming his losses (a good thing), Habakkuk chooses to make a declaration of faith and trust in verse 18: “yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”

Then, in verse 19, he acknowledges who is in control, who gives him strength, and where his contentment should lie: “The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

While it is healthy to name and grieve our losses, we can find contentment in naming and celebrating those life-giving things that help us thrive. For me, in 2011 in Japan, cooking for disaster relief volunteers gave me purpose and brought contentment. Now, being able to teach ESL and Japanese, and lead Spiritual Direction (virtually) are life-giving activities. Weekly cooking classes for my church kids via Zoom turned out to be a great way to keep connected with them, and to get to know them better! Daily prayer on Zoom with my church people has given a rhythm to my days and a connection with my friends, as well as an important way to prayerfully discern together how to move forward and find contentment. Instead of moaning about being stuck at home, I learned to treasure the space for silence, prayer, and time in God’s Word. Finding contentment comes in both expected and surprising ways as we keep our eyes on the Sovereign Lord, who is our strength.

A while ago, I used these verses from Habakkuk as a template to name my losses great and small; and then, in faith, chose contentment and rejoicing, naming those people and things for which I am thankful. Why not try that yourself or with your family or church people? We each have different griefs, but we have the same source of hope, peace, strength, and contentment!

Rachel Wilhelm, a Christian singer-songwriter, wrote a song entitled “I Will Take Joy” from these verses. I find it encouraging and have played it over and over again during this season. I share it with you here in hopes that it will help you give voice to not only your losses but also your faith: https://youtu.be/J5oxsCCsSJM

Praying for us all in this time of trial!