Sometimes when I sit down with a portion of scripture I’m surprised at where my journaling will take me.

Today, this passage took me back to the lockdowns and restrictions of recent years. Remember those? Who could forget them, right?

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. (Romans 1:11-13 NIV) 

As I am sure you do remember, there were times in the past couple of years when gathering limits were limited or the faith gatherings were banned altogether. Some churches defied the orders. Others worked within the boundaries of the orders. 

Honestly, I was more impressed by the ones who worked within the boundaries than I was by the ones who defied them. I know some will be shocked and even question my faith based on such a statement, but let me explain a little before you cast judgment. Okay? 

Boundaries on gatherings were nothing new to me. I have a chronic health condition called multiple chemical sensitivities that limits what I can do – some days the limits are high, some days they are low. Currently, I have some long c-vid symptoms added to my health issues and those symptoms have limited me even more. 

Boundaries. Limits. They’re not fun or easy  I’d love to just defy them and get on with all the things I want to do. But I can’t. Not without some very unpleasant consequences. 

I have been learning to live within these boundaries. I’ve been trying to discover new ways to do things and what routines or practices give me a bridge to cross over those boundaries – at least for a while. I’ve also been learning to notice the warning signs that I am getting too close to the edge of what my system can handle. 

This process is also not fun or easy. But it is necessary because this is where God has me right now, and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He is working in me because of the boundaries. 

So this is why seeing churches find ways to circumvent the restriction without breaking them was inspiring to me. It helped me see ways that people like me, who can’t always get to services in person, can still be ministered to and encouraged. It also pushed me to begin sharing posts like this for those who might just need a little encouragement while sitting in their armchair or lying in their bed. 

Trust me. Being always at home and feeling left out, ignored or abandoned, is depressing. I have felt invisible and wrestled with “why bother” thoughts more often than I would like to admit. These feelings don’t aid in healing, nor do they help strengthen a person’s faith. 

Sharing of common experiences is why gathering in person is wonderful. However, sometimes, for some people, that wonderful experience is just not an option. 

From where I am sitting today and looking back over the near past, I can see how the restrictions brought some very positive changes and accommodations that are a blessing for those of us who simply cannot always gather as others do, like live streaming services in real time.  

Now that I’ve said all that, how does this tie in with the scripture passage I read today. Why would what Paul is saying in this passage make me think of these things? 

Well, did you read verse 11? Do you see what he longs to do? 

He wants to meet with the Roman Christians face to face. He longs for that in-person worship experience that brings mutual encouragement. 

Did you also read verse 13? 

In that verse, we discover that Paul made plans to visit Rome. However, he was prevented. In fact, he still hadn’t been able to see them at the time he was writing this letter to them. 

But did that stop him from ministering to them? 

No. 

He found a way to work within the boundaries that were placed upon him. He took up the communication technology of the day – a letter – and used that as his means of imparting “some spiritual gift to make” them strong and to encourage them in their faith. 

(By the way, this is the same technology that he uses again when he is in true lockdown – as in, chained to a guard, waiting for trial in Rome lockdown. He was not a “wait until things are back to normal before I minister” sort of fellow, now was he?)

He had a desire to minister to the Christians in Rome, and he wasn’t going to let a little thing like distance and thwarted plans keep him from sharing the message of the Gospel with them. 

And, you know, because of that, we have the book of Romans – his letter – to help us grow and be encouraged in our faith. 

Boundaries. Limits. They really stink sometimes, but if we learn to work with and around them, the result can be lasting and quite far-reaching.

How about you and me? How great is our desire to minister to others? Is it strong enough to find a way to do it despite any obstacles that might be in our way? Is it deep enough to spur us to be innovative as we seek ways to bless others? 

If you have seen or been part of ministering from a distance or maybe you’ve been blessed by such a ministry, I’d love to hear about it. Great ideas are worth and God’s blessings are always worth sharing.

Find other Morning Thoughts journal entries here.

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