I was speaking to a friend earlier and she said ‘I feel like I am in a movie’

After laughing at what seemed like an absurd comment from my dear sis Nicky B, it dawned on me that she was right. In this current season of great uncertainty, I feel like I have been casted for a role in a movie that I never auditioned for. And if that isn’t bad enough, I along with every one else has been thrown in the deep end to freestyle our lines, keep up with the scenes and remain in character. As the storyline progresses, I find myself waiting for the plot twist. And as the dramatic pauses meet the climaxes, I battle with how my character fits into this grand blockbuster.

If only this was a movie. But it is not.

This new reality is one that has caused the globe to shake in ways that has left world leaders and the people they lead afraid. Afraid not only for the health of themselves and loved ones, but worried about the food they are going to eat, the money they aren’t going to make and the roofs over their heads.

As a member of society who is actively on social media and connected to thousands of media outlets at a click of my fingers, it is easy to be consumed by whats going on.

It is also easy for me to join the thousands of people panic buying in the super markets and the masses of people glued to the next news story or WhatsApp broadcast.

But that isn’t my role in this ‘movie’ and neither is it yours. If there was ever a time for believers to rise and practice the word they read and the utterances they preach, it is now. Daily I am reminded that this battle is big. Scrap that, it is HUGE! And as a result, I must renew my mind with the word of God daily.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will – Romans 12:2 

Yesterday I spent the morning praying for the land and the people. I was so pumped up for the entire day. I purposely kept my focus on God’s word and not my phone.

But it only took one news alert the following morning to shake me. For the first few minutes of my day today, I was in panic mode. I was worried about the lack of supplies for my loved ones expecting babies or with young children. Eventually I stopped and reminded myself of who I am. I was able to calm down because I renewed my mind and I spoke God’s truth. Renewing our mind is continual. Especially in the midst of battle.

I asked myself today, what is my role in this movie? My role isn’t to panic but instead, my role is to be light. Where there is darkness, light brings hope. Light also brings life and light brings healing.

Lets put a stop to trading the news app for the bible app and undervaluing the place of prayer because of what the media tells us.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land – 2 Chronicles 7:14

We can’t place God in a box and limit His ability to turn this situation around. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe we aren’t seeing the turn around because many of us have taken on the wrong role? Let us all commit time each day to pray for our nation, the world and our leaders.

If we sanitised our mouths as much as we did our hands, I wonder how many more lives could pull through this virus? The bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue but yet when the narrative says ‘many more people will die from this virus’ some of us can be found guilty of agreeing with it. I am not saying we should ignore the trends or the increasing rates of fatalities. I am saying that we use the power given to us by God to cry out for mercy. We also have to start believing that the power to heal the sick is still alive!

I don’t want to pretend that things right now aren’t overwhelming and that our anxieties aren’t understandable. But I promise you that the moment you surrender your anxieties to God in prayer and in supplication, He will give you peace to carry on through this storm. You are not alone and if you ever forget that or feel that you aren’t covered. Remember Psalm 91. Declare it out loud and believe it.

Encourage yourself in the Lord so that you can also be an encouragement to those around you who need it.

There are many roles in this movie. When it is all said and done, let it be said that you were light