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Physical Isolation Doesn’t Mean Spiritual Deprivation

By Ashley Bates | March 20, 2020

Ashley Bates Blog

It’s starting to sink in, isn’t it? You can’t leave your home, gather with more than ten people, and some of your favorite things to do are off the table. The reality of restricted living is here. This brings on fear, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Our minds play countless versions of what-ifs and how am I going to’s. We become bound to the prison of our mind as our thoughts take over.


Physical isolation doesn’t mean spiritual deprivation. God gives us another way. 2 Corinthians 5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Our world is spinning upside down but the truth is, in Jesus, we can still live free. How?


When we feel out of control we choose to surrender because His ways are better than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

When resources feel scarce we remind ourselves that He gives abundantly. (John 10:10)

When we lose faith we remember He is faithful. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

When doubt creeps in we let hope seep out. (Romans 4:18)

We may be stuck at home but we don’t have to get stuck in our heads. Paul worshipped while he was in prison (Acts 16:16-40). You are free to experience the hope of Jesus today. But, it is a choice we make. And, there are moments where it’s a hard choice to make but it really is worth it. As we navigate our new norms, the unknown, and all it brings–let’s choose freedom over fear (2 Timothy 1:7).


When you find yourself spinning in your own mind just pause to take your thoughts captive. Surrender them to Jesus and replace the bad news of the world with the good news of Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Sometimes the uncertainty feels so much bigger than God, but I’m certain my God is so much bigger.


We find hope for ourselves when we encourage others. Who do you need to share hope with today?


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Filed Under: Hope, New, The Unknown Tagged With: hope, isolation, uncertainty

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