Una sonrisa para tiempos inciertos

God is sovereign—even in uncertain times.

There’s no denying that things are uncertain right now with the alarming spread of the coronavirus.

The reality is that we control no more of our lives today than we did two months ago. God is still in control, and He is still at work.

A couple of days before the government in my host country issued a stay-at-home order, I went to the market. Walking around, I heard people around me murmuring, “Corona, corona.” These whisperings had been following my teammates and me for some days already. Since we are foreigners, some people seem to think that we’re to blame for bringing the virus into the country.

Suddenly a pair of thin arms wrapped around my waist and I heard a small voice squeal.

I pushed aside my frustration and continued shopping for the produce I needed for the week.

But my frustration grew as I overheard two Muslim men talking about me and other foreigners—and how the spread of the coronavirus is our fault. They assumed that I didn’t speak the local language and that I couldn’t understand them.

Internally I prepared a rebuttal about how I’ve been here since long before the outbreak and how I hadn’t brought it here.

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted as a pair of thin arms wrapped around my waist. I heard a small voice squeal, “Miss Kailee!”

I looked down to see a pair of brown eyes filled with pure delight and a small smile beaming up at me. It was Halima, one of my precious first-grade students who I hadn’t seen in weeks.

I asked Halima how she and her family were doing. We talked for a few minutes, then she had to return to her mother.

It was a brief moment of connection. But amid all the uncertainty, fear, and frustration, Halima’s simple smile helped me stop and reassess my attitude toward others.

No matter the grumblings and murmurings my teammates and I hear around us, it’s as important as ever to show Christ’s extravagant love and grace to the hurting and lost people God has called us to.

• Ask God to open doors for you to share Christ’s hope with people who feel lost, anxious, and afraid.
• Pray that in these uncertain times, many hearts will be opened and more receptive to the Gospel.
• Pray for a fresh wave of encouragement to wash over Frontiers workers as they seek creative ways to reach Muslims.