Sara Hagerty writes, “Rarely do I notice the roots of a tree unless my feet stumble over them. I may notice the way branches above me cut across the sky as I pull out of my driveway. I may sit with my toddler in the shade or pick apples at an orchard with my children in early autumn. I may roll a newly fallen leaf between my fingers. But most of the time I walk unaware right over the roots, the hidden life of every tree that makes everything else-branches, shade, fruit, and leaves-possible at all.” (Unseen)

Just like the roots of a tree, our faith is hidden. The test of a strong tree is if it remains standing after a storm. Unlike the roots of a tree, a lot of folks feel uprooted today. How can our faith withstand something uncontrollable like the Coronavirus pandemic?  

Who hasn’t felt separated during this unprecedented crisis? The word for 2020 is “social distancing”. Pregnant women in New York City, where the US outbreak is severe, have to give birth all alone as their spouses are banned from delivery rooms.

Thousands upon thousands of people have not survived. Instead of a funeral service, people have to wait for a memorial service as bodies of loved ones have already been buried. Not only were they separated during the virus, but they were separated at death. 

How can we stay rooted in hope?

Trees have roots to collect water and nutrients. The Scriptures are rich nutrients which keep us rooted in what really matters despite what’s happening in the world. That’s why it makes sense to call it our daily bread. If I ignore reading it then I won’t survive.

Paul wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

We can never be separated from God’s love. You may feel separated during these weird times. You may be all alone, separated from a family member sick with the virus. But the presence of God surrounds you.

How do I feel His presence? For me, I grab my journal and empty my feelings. Then I read a selection from a devotional to warm me up spiritually followed by reading verses in the Bible. I then get on my knees when no one is around and ask God to hear every letter of every word of every phrase of every sentence of every paragraph from the pages of my heart regarding what bothers me and what bothers friends of mine.

Give God a try. His love for you is deep as it is wide.