If the experience of the coronavirus pandemic has been teaching us anything, it has been teaching us patience. So many things have been put on hold.  Plans for vacation or plans for visiting loved ones have been paused.  We wait for restrictions to be lifted as we long for society to return to “normal”.

We are living in uncertain times, and this can foster anxiety, fear, and despair. Throughout this pandemic, many of our plans for the foreseeable future have been put on hold, revised, or cancelled. Plans for vacations or weddings, for instance, have been changed in the blink of an eye. Businesses and schools have closed, reopened, and closed again.

The Coronavirus pandemic is a time of suffering and pain for so many. In the eyes of the wider world, we are living through a senseless tragedy of enormous proportions. But for those who know the Lord, we have the confidence that He is using this season to refine His church, to teach His people a deeper trust and faith, and ultimately, to bring glory to Himself.

Covid-19 is affecting humans across the globe. Its reach is wide and its impact is deep. Many people are suffering and wondering how long the pandemic will last. In these times, Christians are being challenged to endure in trust, joy and faithfulness as they walk with the Lord Jesus. But endurance is certainly not easy.

In 2017, the British Broadcasting Corporation commissioned a survey on religious beliefs in the UK. Strikingly, the survey found that fully a quarter of those who identified as Christians did not believe in the resurrection. This begs some important questions. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ an optional element of the Christian faith or is it central and indispensable?