Not All Toilet Paper is Created Equal - Life in the Middle of the Coronavirus
The first lesson I learned from the Coronavirus is that toilet paper is in higher demand that I ever thought possible when people panic. I never quite understood the fear over a lack of toilet paper until my husband came home and said, “The store is out of Charmin Ultra Soft.” Then I too – began to panic. I reminded him, “That’s my favorite toilet paper! It’s the softest, and I don’t like store brands!” How easy it was for even me to get caught up in the chaos. “What am I going to do?” My mind went into overdrive thinking of other unique places that may stock TP such as hardware or office supply stores. People who lived alone were purchasing family multi-packs. How much toilet paper can one person use!
When the news of this virus broke out in the United States, immediately shelves were emptied not only of water which I expected, but of toilet paper. I even heard of a guy trading in a Rolex watch for TP! I am assuming his wife sent him to the store and insisted that he not come back empty handed.
When I was first married, I told my husband I could deal with lots of things but that I splurged on TP and always bought Charmin Ultra Soft. I told him the store brand wasn’t acceptable and I drew the line on something as simple as toilet paper. My husband must not have taken me seriously because he came back from the store the very first week of our marriage and he got the wrong TP. I asked him, “What happened to Charmin Ultra Soft?” He said, “It wasn’t on sale and I got a good deal.” Well I don’t have to tell you what happened after that conversation.
Ever since then we haven’t had a toilet paper issue in our home until the Corona virus. Now, we couldn’t find Charmin Ultra Soft or any other brand on the shelves because of a strong emotion - panic.
What did I do when I found out TP was going to be a hot commodity? I let my husband put the store brand in all of the bathrooms and I quickly gathered up my favorite toilet paper and snuck it into the guest bath. I then began a rationing program and started counting squares. I also learned when I was in the other restrooms that four squares of Charmin Ultra Soft are not the same as four squares of the store brand. How quickly my mind could be consumed in the panic like everyone around me at the grocery store. Then I remembered that I am a child of God, and He has given me promises in His word. I just need to claim them because when I act in panic, I'm telling Him he doesn't have it covered and that's the last thing I want to tell God.
Now this is a Christian blog so you’re probably wondering how this relates to the gospel.
The times we are in have quickly revealed people’s priorities. Instead of getting right with God and leaning on Him during hard times and trusting His word, people drive around in a fury to buy a supply of commercial goods. It is a form of control and in reality, hasn’t the Coronavirus taught all of us that we really have zero control? So quickly, we can be sheltered at home, food shelves can be emptied, jobs eliminated, and bills pile up.
Philippians 4: 19 says, “My God will meet your every need out of His riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus.” We quickly agree, “What a great verse,” - but I can't trust it because in a panic I have to look out for myself. That's the message we give God when we run around acting out of fear.
God's word has an antidote for panic and stress. It is found in Isaiah 26: 3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” What an amazing verse, and if you read it closely you will see that it is conditional. You will have peace when your mind is steadfast which means consistently trusting Christ and choosing faith over fear. I encourage you to stop right now whatever you're doing and tell God, “I choose faith over fear – help me to have more faith.” When you trust him and fully let go of control, the Bible promises you will have peace. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man that He would lie, or He would change His mind. Has he said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?”
The opposite of trust is panic and fear. These are destructive emotions, and they lead some to even the brink hopelessness. At its simplest, panic can cause sleeplessness, oppression and frustration. At its worst, panic cause nervous breakdowns where one expects the worst and it grips your chest like a vice. Panic attacks can make you feel like you can't breathe and seem as strong as a heart attack.
I challenge you to try it God's way and experience for yourself the freedom and peace of trusting in Him. Discipline your lips to praise the Lord because God lives in our praises. Challenge your mind to focus on a loving and faithful God rather than focusing on the situation around you.
Pray this prayer, “Father I hear you. You are in control, and I need to let go whatever it is causing me to panic and rest in you. I thank you that you love me. Even when I make mistakes, the second I confess them, you remind me how you love me, and you'll never let me go. Thank you that you're teaching me how to rest in you no matter what's going on around me. Help me rest in you Lord. In Jesus’ name Amen.”
In challenging times like this, your weapon is the word of God. Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” When I hear people around me say, “I just don't have enough faith.” I ask them, “When's the last time you've read the Bible or listened to a sermon message?” It is impossible to maintain a strong faith without constantly being in the word of God. God promises to do His part, but we have to do our part. Our society has gotten lazy and we only want other people to do their part without us doing ours. Stand in the power of God's word which says in Psalm 34: 7, “The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”
All of Psalm 91 is amazing and verse 9-10 says, “Because you’ve made the Lord my refuge, The Most High, your place of residence, no evil will happen to you; no disease will come close to your tent.” We have to remember to speak life and read scriptures out loud as our weapon. We have keep from falling into the trap of expecting the miracles of God without trusting and having faith in Him.
There's a verse in 2 Chronicles 20:15 that says, the battle is not yours but Gods. Instead of worrying about supplies and how we're going to pay our bills – stand on God's promises. Another key thing to remember is that you can't doubt when you quote God's word. Scripture after scripture in the Bible that says when you doubt, you're negating your faith.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your cares on Him for he cares for you.” That means tell Him all your worries and let Him know that the battle is His and you trust Him to bring you out of this. This means not only from a health perspective, but from a job and financial perspective. This includes paying your rent and having enough food and other things like toilet paper.
Why am I giving you scripture after scripture in this particular blog? Because when you fully commit your life to Christ and place your trust in Him, He will work out every detail of your life. The only solution I can give you when we panic about the future is an unchanging God - He alone is faithful. If COVID-19 has taught us anything it's that we have zero control. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will bring it to pass.”
I have a wooden sign at home that says, God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. Some people expect heaven on earth, but when you read the Bible you learn that's not the case. Heaven is perfect, but scripture says the earth won’t be.
Are you spending your life in fear and panic? If so, has it helped you in any way or solved your problems? It is a choice – choose today to let it go and try it God’s way.