It’s hard to imagine a more fitting example of “the domino effect” than COVID-19. It’s touched virtually every part of our lives, and yet we’re still learning more of its residual effects on a daily basis. Unemployment, labor shortage, shifting supply and demand, mass migrations to digital platforms and back, ever-evolving education policies, social mandates, vaccination discussions, ethical dilemmas, and political responses have each affected us at some level. And for many, the pandemic has left deeper marks - endangering or even taking the lives of loved ones. The cause-and-effect relationships formed by a pandemic are far more than biological - they’re personal, economical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.

There was a time when the collective lament, “When will things return to normal?” flavored most conversations. Since then, dynamics have changed on both organizational and personal levels. Restrictions have fluctuated. Some families have taken a collective sigh of relief as a degree of “normalcy” has been restored to them. Other families are still reeling from permanently altered careers, the loss of a loved one, or grief over how things “used to be”. Still others lie somewhere in between - relaxing into some pre-COVID rhythms and re-learning what it’s like to watch a movie in a theatre, while at the same time wrestling with a growing awareness that, for many reasons, our world is still very much not okay.

We’re humanly wired to find physiological equilibrium. Our bodies were designed to maintain consistent temperatures, blood pressures, and hydration levels. The term “homeostasis” borrows Greek root words meaning “similar to” + “standing still.” Essentially, in order to sustain life, we need biological consistency that’s sustained. When things are off-balance, we feel the effects.

Don’t we see this trend bleed into our spiritual lives as well? Our default practice is to find stability IN THE NORM, not out of it. When our lives are shaken up, our souls feel the effects. And we know deep down that we need to return to a posture of stability. Our hearts need to return to the places where they can stand still, calm and sure. Over the past two years, our world has been shaken. It’s easy to imagine the cumulative cry for “homeostasis” that’s risen up from every corner of the earth.

Here’s the breakdown. We think that our restored stability - that factor that will once again still our souls - will be carried by situational homeostasis:

“When the restrictions loosen, we can get on with our lives.” 

“When the vaccine achieves herd immunity, we can finally put this behind us.”

Or, 

“As long as we can somehow preserve medical autonomy, our kids will be ok.” 

“When the economy turns around, we can pick up where we left off.” 

“I’m just waiting for the day when mask mandates are a thing of the past.”

We long for every form of “normalcy” to be restored, each one loudly advertising to us the return of comfortable routines, personal freedoms, and unhindered preferences. And while we would gladly slip into those luxuries of old, like a favorite sweater, we need to ask ourselves if we’re trusting in the return of “normalcy” more than we’re trusting in God to provide our deepest sense of stability.

God reminds us with:
His Word,
His flawless track record of faithfulness,
His indwelling Spirit,
The strong testimony of His church,
And His steadfast promises,
that He is singularly able to place His hands on our lives and restore stillness and peace to our shaken souls, regardless of our situation. He wants to be our stability both IN the “norm” and outside of it.

We need not place our wellbeing in the hands of circumstance instead of the Savior. 

In every moment of circumstantial chaos, we are offered the same possibility of steadfast, sustained stability of soul and spirit, no matter whether our situation looks seemingly “normal” or nowhere near it. Why? Because we don’t need homeostatic circumstances to thrive as believers. We need - and we have - an unchanging God.

How do we access that stability on a daily basis? We’re so grateful for this application from Pastor Blodgett’s message on Psalm 46:

As you evaluate where you are seeking stability in this season, our prayer is that these passages and lyrics draw your spiritual vision to the true refuge of our souls:

“Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
And seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard
And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And through it all, through it all
It is well
And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And it is well, with me”

“It Is Well”, Bethel Music

“Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.”

Psalm 73:25-26 (NLT)

"God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring.
Selah.”

Psalm 46:1-3 (AMP) 

“Though the fig tree does not blossom
And there is no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord;
I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army];
He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet
And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility].”

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (AMP)

For added reminders of the stability God has offered us in Himself, we’ve created a Spotify playlist surrounding this truth. We pray it is a blessing to you.