God’s Goodness During COVID-19 {Guest Post}

Summer 2020 is coming to an end. It’s been a doozy for many folks, including Carrie Wood, who contracted COVID-19 earlier this summer. Recently, she shared her testimony about God’s goodness during COVID-19. I asked her if she would share her encouraging and timely message with you all. Thankfully, she agreed.

Allow me to introduce you to Carrie. She’s a kindergarten teacher’s assistant preparing for another interesting year! She and her husband live in western North Carolina with their two children.

God’s Goodness During COVID-19 

by Carrie Wood

Covid-19, a word most of us were not familiar with until March 2020. It has changed us all. I pray it’s for the better and for HIS glory. I have been studying the Old Testament straight through for a couple of years. Currently, I am in 1 Samuel. I like to write in a journal my thoughts after reading HIS Word. I hope you keep a journal. It’s important to write things down to help us remember.

On March 17, 2020 I wrote in my journal: 

I am so thankful for the WORD and the examples we have in the WORD!

The Dreaded Coronavirus

Fast forward a few months after writing this journal entry. My seventeen-year-old and I got the dreaded coronavirus. I wasn’t fearful of dying at all. But, I felt like I had leprosy and had to scream “UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” when someone approached. 

One day, I was outside when the mailman drove up. I could not get into the house in time and had to shout, “Stay back! I am sick!”

But God saw us through and provided for all of our needs. It was a challenge for us as we were quarantined for pretty much a month. My husband could not go to work but worked from home while taking care of me, the children, and the house. It was challenging to say the least! 

I was trapped in my room away from everyone. We, moms, say we always want this—the peace and quiet. But when this peace and quiet came, I hated it. I learned a lot about myself in those days–prideful, and longing to be in control.  But I could not do anything.  I had to let others handle it.  That is hard for a mom.  Or it was for me.  I couldn’t take care of my family. I was unable to settle sibling arguments, wash laundry, or clean the house. Some days I did not feel well enough to pray or read my Bible. My brain wouldn’t let me. I was in a fog from the virus. 

God’s Provision During COVID-19

But God provided for EVERY need. From friends running errands, checking in on us daily, and bringing meals to friends praying for me and with me, and even reading the WORD to me over the phone.  When I began to feel a little better, some friends came and sat on the front porch with me. I didn’t feel like I was an outcast during those days. 

People were not made for isolation at all.  It will truly play tricks on your mind. 

Here’s the entry in my journal on July 31,2020:

Personalizing Psalm 34

When I started back to work this year, God gave me a chapter.  Not just a word, or a verse, but a chapter.  I wrote Psalm 34 out in my journal, in a way that made it personal to me.

Journal Entry on August 10, 2020:

I will bless the LORD at all times this school year. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
My soul will make its boast in the LORD. The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt HIS name together.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 
I looked at HIM and was radiant and my face will never be ashamed. 
I cried, and The LORD heard me and saved me out of my troubles.
The LORD encamps around those who fear HIM. And rescues them. 
Taste and see that the LORD is good, Carrie. How blessed I am who takes refuge in HIM!
O fear the LORD, Carrie HIS saint. For those who fear HIM there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger. But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, Carrie, listen to me.  I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Don’t desire life and long lengths of days. 
Carrie, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good, Carrie.  Seek peace and pursue it, Carrie.
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and HIS ears are open to their cry. 
The face of the LORD is against evildoers to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 
The righteous cry and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 
Many are the afflictions of the righteous. But the LORD delivers him out of them all. 
He keeps all his bones. Not one of them is broken. 
Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 
The LORD redeems the soul of Carrie, and Carrie will not be condemned when she takes refuge in HIM.

-From Psalm 34 (NASB)

Speak and Sing of God’s Goodness

When my pastor called me and asked if I’d share my testimony, I had to tell him to let me get my thoughts together.  But just five minutes later, as I was walking to my car, God said, I have already given you everything- Speak it.  So I went home and pulled out my journal.  Everything was there, just as He said. 

So you see the importance of journaling and writing down all that the LORD has done for you every day.  Because in our humanity, we will forget. And in our humanity, we want to remember. I have what the LORD has done for me written in black and white. 

This morning, while reading my Bible, God gave another verse and reminded me of the time David was in the wilderness and hiding in the cave where Saul entered. In Psalm 57:7, David wrote: “My heart is steadfast(fixed) O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!”

Continually, I must sing HIS praises. Fixed on HIM, I’m singing HIS praises even in the midst of COVID-19! 

I want to add that the Lord saved me at the age of 38. For 38 years, I was “blind.” I thought all I had to do was repeat a prayer and then I would be saved. That’s a lie of the enemy. I was a good girl and did (most) things right. But God showed me how sick and diseased I was and on the way to hell. I am so thankful for what HE is doing in and through me. I will say, it has not been easy to relearn Biblical truths. But I’m thankful I am learning every day.

Over the years, I have also learned that being obedient to God and following HIM wholeheartedly is a moment-by-moment process.  And since March 2020, haven’t we, moment-by-moment, not known what was going to happen next? 

 Is this not where God wants us?

Carrie, thank you, so much for sharing about God’s goodness during your family’s experience with COVID-19. We’re praising God with you for His goodness, His provision, and His healing.

Giveaway

Friends, didn’t you love Carrie’s journal entries? You know I’m a big supporter of journaling–especially about God’s goodness. We’re leaving a legacy for the next generation. In celebration of that, I’m giving away a gift certificate to Christian Book Distributors so one of you dear readers can purchase one of their Yay! We have a WINNER of the Christian Book Distributors Gift Certificate. Congratulations to Trina T. from Texas! I’ll be in touch with you soon!