The rapid spread of COVID-19 has induced a fear that has left some communities and homes paralysed. The caution and heed to the health of the public is warranted. However, this state of anxiety leaves us very uncomfortable and uncertain.

Mental health workers have presented concerns about what this collective experience means and the impact this may have. It has been suggested that self-isolation and being quarantined may induce the following emotional experiences:

1. Optimism: An eager and positive attitude masked by an intention to be productive and industrious.
2. Determination: A deteriorated optimism but an eagerness to stick to intended tasks and schedule.
3. Satisfaction and frustration: This stage is shown by an oscillation between productivity and failing to meet targets resulting in satisfaction and frustration at times.
4. Depression: This may be elicited by difficulty concentrating, maintaining routine and being away from typical experiences – seeing friends and loved ones, collective gatherings and doing the things we enjoy. You might feel agitated, demotivated, hopeless, or feel a sense of despair.
5. Anger: The experience of anger about the situation and the confinement may also creep up. This may lead to getting easily irritated and agitated by others in your household.
6. Acceptance:  Acknowledging that other things are in our control and others not so much is indicative of accepting the situation for what it is.
7. Making meaning: Remembering that this move to self-isolate is necessary and that you’re serving humanity and the greater good to help prevent more sickness and death.

We may not experience all these stages nor may they be experienced in this order. However, this time calls for a reflection and observation of ourselves in relation to things, beings and ideas. This article intends to conscientize you to things that may determine how you get through these times.

Your relationship with information

During this time, we are inundated by information – fake news, statistics and death tolls. It is important that we monitor how we interact with all this information. Information is very accessible and invades our senses constantly. The concern is what this information has the ability to do as we go through these days. This is not to suggest an “ignorance is bliss” approach to coping, but rather a healthy awareness that allows us to be consumed by other joyous things.

We also must hold ourselves accountable for the information we share for others to consume. Is it helpful to overwhelm others who are already spammed continuously with COVID-19 news?

Your relationship with others

This is a time to be evaluative of the role we play in the lives of those near and far. Imagine what it must be like to be in isolation with an abusive or emotionally toxic spouse during this time. Imagine what it must be like living with a high-risk chronic illness during this time. Imagine.

I say imagine, but I am hoping that this will drive us to small acts of service for those near and far. Others we may call and spend ten minutes encouraging or praying with on the phone – not lamenting how inconvenient lockdown is. Let this time drive us to empathy and prayer for others.

Your relationship with self

Some will be spending a lot of time alone or with their own thoughts during this time. This may be healthy and very necessary, but this can also be very destructive too. Time spent with self can allow us to take inventory of our thoughts, attitudes and what we value.

It can be suggested that the self is made up of identity, body image, personality, role performance and esteem. These faculties of the self can aid us navigate the perils of thoughts, attitudes and values that do not help us to be gentle with ourselves during this time.

Self-care is a commonly reiterated message but many of us are yet to determine what that ought to look like. We either err on the extreme of self-neglect and burn out, or the extreme of self -absorption and sinfulness. Take caution brethren.

Your relationship with the Trinity

This is a time for us to think about what God is saying to us. This does not warrant answers but a reckoning with the times that we are living in.

As we go through the seven stages mentioned earlier, it is worth remembering that we are not left alone but with a comforter that is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). May this truth renew our minds as we pray, seek peace and a holy perspective; remaining in fellowship with Christ

The collective fear, panic and uncertainty that exists now is a demonstration of the unbelief that looms over us. May this time serve as an opportunity to remember The Word of God that gives hope to those who are called by Him. Let us repent of our wickedness and hold onto faith in the grace that is promised to us by our Heavenly Father.

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Everywhere we look, we see a lot of chaos in our world. We don’t need to look very far, we only need to turn on the news, the pages of magazines and newspapers or look at social media. I don’t think there has been a single day in History where any human being has said “all is right with the world”. Every time and everywhere, there has been trouble in the world.

We also fear for our lives in light of all that is happening in the world. Sometimes we see it and turn a blind eye, glad that in our corner of the world, we may not be affected by what others are experiencing. Everyone is looking out for themselves, it’s called self-preservation. We crave that at all costs, and it breeds all kinds of injustices and hatred of the “other” in an attempt to elevate and preserve oneself.

It wasn’t always this way. God created perfect human beings in His own image, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). He created everything and it was good, He created human beings and they were very very very good. But sin came into the world when man decided to disobey God and do things that God told them not to do (Romans 5:12). That one action, brought sin into the world, that has separated man from God and been passed on from generation to generation. As human beings, we want to live our own way, and not the way we were intended to live, as God created us. This affects us all, as we are all born from the first created human beings, Adam and Eve, who’s sin has affected us all.

What is going on in the world? We all want power, we all want to do things our own way apart from God. We don’t want Him to be all powerful, we want the power, in one way or another, and this shows in the way we live our lives apart from Him. This power breeds a hatred of anything that stands in the way of us wanting power. For centuries, we have drawn lines of race, class and gender to put people in categories that make us stand out from other people, and we want to be better than them. We don’t want to be equal, we want to be better at all costs. We don’t see ourselves as being created equal, with two gender roles, with no one role being better than the other. Different skin tones, to reflect the beauty and image of God. Different roles in society to glorify God. All these differences that are to glorify God are used to glorify ourselves. To create an “us and them” mentality that propagates our self-preservation, our power over others.

This striving to be better than others, means that we see others as less than ourselves. This notion breeds hatred of anyone who threatens to “usurp” our power. We compare ourselves to others, imitating those who we see as better than us, and ridiculing those who we see as lesser, wanting to keep them suppressed, oppressed and in their place. We don’t see God as the ultimate power, because we want the ultimate power to lie with us. Thank God this will never happen! He is still in control and will always have all the power, no matter how hard we try, and we have tried! But where has this gotten us? Nowhere. And we don’t see it. It has been happening for centuries, the cycle of man thinking he can have ultimate power. Yet we still try, time and time and again, not seeing that history repeats itself:

“All that we call human history–money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery–[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” C.S Lewis

Power and hatred all stem from a heart that does not recognize God as the ultimate power and the definition of love.

Continue reading…Part 2

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Media has been abuzz with news about South Africa these past few weeks. Men who have raped and killed women, and men who have kidnapped children. Is this something new? No. There have been a number of violent attacks on African people, by other African people, simply because they are from a different part of the African continent. Are these xenophobic attacks new? No. Is this a phenomenon that has occurred in the past? Yes. Here again, sin in the form of power and hatred rears its ugly head. Men wanting power over women, different cultural groups wanting power over one another. Not seeing one another as human beings, created in the image of God, as fellow image bearers (Genesis 1:27). Sin is sin, and it manifests itself in different forms.

Looking at the history of South Africa, we see how sin manifested itself in the form of apartheid. People of one skin tone thinking they are better than people of another skin tone. Why? For one group to have power over the other. Let’s think about this. What happens to someone who has been sold the narrative of being lesser than another over time, decades and centuries? Will that person just decide to change their mind and start seeing themselves as equal to those who have been believed to be superior all this time? Will all the hatred towards the other, automatically change? Will a period of 25 years of freedom from the oppressor undo centuries of oppression, just like that? We would have to have a greater power than man believes himself to be, to truly change the mindset of both the oppressor and the oppressed to do truly do that. We are still seeing the effects of apartheid today.

Am I saying that apartheid has caused all the wrong that is happening today? No. It’s sin, and that sin manifested itself in the form of apartheid.

Apartheid aside, have we forgotten about the wars between different cultural groups in Africa and South Africa? Have we forgotten about the Mfecane? The period of widespread chaos and warfare among indigenous ethnic communities in southern Africa during the period between 1815 and about 1840? Many may say a lot of the conflict was instigated by the colonial forces in order to destabilize African cultural groups, but whether or not that was the case, we still see sin at play, with the quest for power and a hatred of the other, being evident. We still see this happening today, the cycle continues, not only on the African continent, but in the world.

What is the cause of what is happening?

What is the cause of all that is wrong in this world? Sin. “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12) Once we deny this very fact, human beings are doomed. Denying this means there is no hope and we will continue to spiral into destruction and chaos. Recognising the one problem of this world, the biggest problem there will ever be, shows us that there is a problem that needs a solution.

We have seen sin manifest itself in power and hatred, which has led to many consequences. The world has been in deadly wars, genocides, all because of the need for power over the other and hatred of the other to have power over them. These are all means of destruction, caused by the need to want more,

be more, and have power. Our sinful need for power causes hatred, caused by sin. The sin of loving the self, more than others. The sin of loving ourselves more than our creator. When will we learn?

Only God has power! Jeremiah 10:12-13 says “He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. When He utters His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens: And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries.” Who in this world has such power? Which being that ever existed?

Romans 1:20 tells us “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse”

Only God provides us with what we need! He has given us everything by His power:

“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,” 2 Peter 1:3

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:26-34

He provides us with what we need including our need for a savior from sin.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

This is our only hope in the world. We have a way out from trying to satisfy ourselves. A way out from all the sin that is causing destruction in this world. From all the sin that is destroying us. From being far away from the one who created us and has provided all we need. There is a way to be content with what He has given us. A way to love others and see others as fellow image-bearers in Christ. A way from not competing with others and thinking more of ourselves. His name is Jesus.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you

have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10

He is the spotless lamb, the only one who has ever lived without sin, yet took the punishment of the sins of the world upon Himself. The only begotten son of God, fully God and fully man, who came to save us. The righteous one who imparts His righteousness on us, so that we may be reconciled to the Father. He took the wrath that we deserve, upon Himself and has ascended into heaven as His work on earth has been completed.

He left us with His Holy Spirit, to continue the work of transforming us into the likeness of Himself.

To help us understand His will for us through the scriptures, and applying it to our lives:

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

To convict and transform us, to hate sin and turn away from it:

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:8-15

To rely on His ultimate power in our lives and to put all our trust in Him. For our good.

“My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2

To teach us to love one another as he loved us.

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” Romans 5:5

We cannot do any of these things unless we turn to Christ, (Matthew 6: 33) have faith in Him through His word (Romans 10:17, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:5), believe in Him (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9) turn from our sins and live our lives according to his will (1 John 1:9, Acts 3:19).

We can never have all the power, because all power belongs to the Lord. We can never provide ourselves with all we need because only God can do that. We cannot love our neighbours without knowing the love of God, without knowing God who is love Himself. My prayer is that the Lord will, through the preaching of His word, transform hearts. It’s the only solution to the problems of the world. It has been the only solution and will always be. For those who do not know the Lord, seek Him, turn to Him in repentance that He may transform your heart and mold and make you into His likeness. That you may live a full life honouring to Him and be reconciled to Him. For those who know the Lord, let us continue to seek Him, let us continue to share the good news of the gospel with our neighbours. Let us love them so much that we don’t want them to perish. Let us not be shocked at the state of the world and say “look at them, look at what sinful people are doing,” Let us love God and His people, taking heed to the great commission:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

This is the only remedy to the problem of sin that plagues our societies and causes destruction.

Tell of the good news! Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika

The post The cycle of sin in the world: Power and hatred in a world that is anti-God – Part 2 appeared first on Proverbs 31.

The last two decades under Mugabe’s rule can be described in one word: despair.  I have seen friends and family languishing in hospitals dying from diseases that have a cure. Others have died crossing borders while others have been killed in foreign countries- murdered ruthlessly by people who did not want them in their lands. Everywhere we have gone we have been ridiculed and abused – treated like the scum of the earth. All over the world we were held in derision, our human dignity debased, just like the land of our birth.

Personally, I have been an economic refugee for all of my adult life. I have lived in 4 countries since I left Zimbabwe at age 17 in search of a better life. I also grew up without my mother because she had to work abroad to keep our family afloat . I miss my home. I miss eating mulberries, mangoes and corn that grew so abundantly. I miss my friends who are now scattered all over the world, some of whom I’ll probably never see again. From the time I left Zim I have had to reconstruct my life four times over – sometimes living in a country where I knew absolutely no one. I have had to be content with seeing family every few years and maintaining relationships via skype and whatsapp. It’s been a hard life but I know I am one of the lucky ones. Others have suffered far worse.

So why did I wake up despairing today? Because I got caught up in the euphoria and chose to overlook the  credentials of the men who are delivering this freedom to us. These men have stood by Mugabe all these years and are part of the same corrupt system that has kept Mugabe in power. These men we hail as our deliverers today, have been our oppressors for the last 37 years. And so today, on the morning after the fall of Mugabe, I woke up a little sober minded and I momentarily lost hope for our beautiful country. But God in his kindness gave me comfort from his word.

Psalm 146v3-8

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

We despair when we place our hope in anything other than God. I had put my hope in man rather than God. Emmerson Mnangagwa and General Chiwenga are not the deliverers of Zimbabwe. God is. They did not dethrone Mugabe. God did.  For God is the one who “brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.” (Isa 40v23) And God does this because all “authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” (Rom 13:1)

So tonight I go to sleep in peace. God, the sovereign ruler of all the world is in control. He’s got this. I do not know where Zimbabwe will go from here, whether we will live in a free and prosperous country again, but I know that God’s got a handle on it. Whether in poverty or plenty, God has a plan. I have lost so much in my life but I know that this life is only temporary. We have a hope that is certain, and that hope will not disappoint us, the hope of eternity spent with Christ. Men will disappoint us but God is forever faithful. We will live as freed men one day and enjoy without fear or regret the beautiful bounty of God’s creation. Until then, I will put my hope in God as I continue to pray for my beloved Zimbabwe

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