Please disinfect!

Many years ago, I was standing at the airport in Kuala Lumpur and was totally surprised to see so many people wearing masks and disinfectant dispensers everywhere. I didn't even know what to think about it!

But now, after the COVID-19 pandemic, it's all changed. Everybody knows what they're for. Everyone, whether at the doctor's office or just shopping, has these dispensers in front of them and has used them diligently over the years to apply protection through them. So many times we've heard, "Do your part to save lives,” and we understand that sanitizing your hands is part of it.

David cries out to God, "Oh, give me back my joy again…” (Psalm 51:8, NLT)

Joy is something that our circumstances—like a pandemic—can try to take from us. But those circumstances are exactly where God wants to save you and bring back your joy!

Protect yourself from having your joy taken away by going to the One who gives you that protection!

Yes, imagine God as a disinfectant dispenser—think of how widespread they are now… But God is even more present! God is everywhere. 🤯

We can read in the Psalms, “You hem me in behind and before…” (Psalm 139:5, NIV)! Now it is only up to you whether you make use of God's protection from sadness or not, if you are aware of His presence and ask for His joy.

Just as you are free to choose whether or not to use the disinfectants that are put in front of you, you are free to access the joy God has for you. When it comes to sanitizing your hands, I know you don't always "feel" like it. Especially when you are fully loaded with shopping bags, it is costly to put them down to disinfect your hands.

Is it really more work to put down those burdens that make you so sad for a moment to reach for joy? Really? If you knew that this moment with God would give you protection from sadness, would you actually give it up?

Try it. Reach out to God and experience what David experienced: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19 NIV) Reach out for joy today. 😄

You are a miracle!