The Comforter in Isolation, Quarantine & Tornado!

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(16) And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever… (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:16, 18

 By Teresa Taylor-Williams

About 10 p.m. the other night, a tornado was sighted just outside of my small Kansas town.

As the ominous sirens outside grew louder, I felt fear building up.

This is just great, I thought. If Coronavirus doesn’t take me out, a tornado might!

I called a friend who flatly reminded me: “Well, what’d you expect? You live in what we call tornado alley.”

            Gee, thanks for the sympathy and the gentle reminder, buddy.

            All of a sudden, I felt very alone.

            It was bad enough I was battling COVID-19 in isolation. Now this?

            And this may sound shallow, but I felt sorry for myself. I thought of all the couples and the families who had one another to cling to in this time of emergency.

            I had no one.

            I was suffering and no one cared.

My mother always taught me that suffering is part of life. “No one said we wouldn’t suffer,” she’d say. Essentially, suck it up, buttercup.

I watched the news from the floor. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the tornado veered off in another direction.

Thank You, God, for being with me, I said to myself, as I drifted off to sleep.

“Yes,” He gently reminded me, “I am here. I have always been here.”

At times, living with COVID-19 was not easy.

It was uncomfortable. Chills, congestion, serious body aches, extreme fatigue, dizziness, loss of taste and smell.

It was scary because, well, this virus can be quite intimidating. Particularly when you hear the spiking numbers and see news clips of folks fighting for their lives in hospital beds.

And isolation and quarantine can be lonely. There’s nothing like living in a town full of your relatives and knowing you can’t see any of them…for your safety and for theirs.

But if there is one great thing I can take from this Coronavirus experience, it’s those sweet moments where the Lord reminds me that I am not alone.

Abide in me, and I in you. John 15:4

Reliable. Consistent. That’s God.

He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

 At my old church in Michigan, I have many favorite hymns. I lean on this one: “Jesus is my all and all. Without Him I know I surely would fall. He picked me up, turned me around, placed my feet on solid ground. And that’s why, He’s my, He’s my all and all.”

I just want to assure people, and in the process remind myself, that God is real.

He is a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

And He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

He promised it. I believe it. That settles it.

 “Sometimes you have to encourage yourself. Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test. And no matter how you feel, speak the Word and you will be healed; speak over yourself, encourage yourself in the Lord.” Encourage Yourself by Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers

COVID Won't Take My Faith

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·       I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 (KJV)

·       For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 4:17

by Teresa Taylor Williams

As I said in my previous blog, I went from not knowing anyone with COVID to being diagnosed with it on May 8, 2020.

I started this blog in March as an encouragement to others and to point people to Jesus Christ… not knowing the Lord would use it to help me.

This experience has been nothing short of surreal.

It means daily check-up calls from my local health department, and my doctor’s office calls regularly.

I’ve had considerable discomfort. Splitting headaches. Congestion. Loss of taste and smell. Constant nausea. Awful body aches. Exhaustion.

COVID means quarantine and isolation. I am a natural extrovert who loves people, so this in itself is not easy. I live alone, and it’s difficult knowing I can’t have human contact. The idea of the comfort of a hug seems like a far-off luxury.

I have experienced moments of fear in this thing. Fear of the unknown...

I’ve allowed myself to cry and to be afraid, but it's crucial not to stay in that space.  

When you are charged with isolation and quarantine, you can’t help but examine your life.

As with many of you readers, I’ve had a lot of life challenges.

• In 2010, I lost my job as a journalist that I thought I would retire from.

• In 2014, my husband, my life partner and the father of my sons died unexpectedly.

• In 2017, I lost our family home to foreclosure and later that year, my Dad died.

Each of these things are traumatic in and of themselves.

Hear me clearly: I can still yet praise Him! All glory be to our Heavenly Father!

NO ONE can tell me that Jesus is not a healer, a fixer, a mender of broken things.

He showed Himself strong to me consistently. He held me in my pain. He assured me of His presence. He provided for me and my sons. He put amazing people in my life.

Now, I can’t help but wonder if those awful experiences were preparation for this COVID experience. Because when you face something like this, you better know, that you know, that you know that God is real. And you better call on Him and seek Him while He may yet be found. (Isaiah 55:6)

Because you may find yourself in a situation of isolation where HE IS ALL YOU HAVE.

Yes, life’s trials have laid my faith foundation.

I realize there is much to be thankful for. I am not in a hospital. I am not on a ventilator. I’m so grateful for those who have reached out and indicated words of concern and encouragement, and prayers of support.

Overall, my peace is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I am weak, He is strong. (2 Corinthians 13:9)

And this is just another testimony in my life. We are ALL to use our trials to tell how He brought us through. You never know who is watching, and who will be strengthened and encouraged by your story.

My faith is believing for the full manifestation of my healing. O LORD, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. Psalm 30:2 (See also 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 6:2; Jeremiah 17:14; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16)

May He use this experience with COVID and my life for my good and for His glory!

 “I love Jesus, He’s my Savior. When storms are raging, He’s my shelter. Wherever He leads me, I will follow. ‘Cause I love Jesus, and He loves me.” Sung by Donnie McClurkin

Diagnosis: "You Have Coronavirus"

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Psalm 103:1-5: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction. Who crowns  you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

By Teresa Taylor-Williams

On Friday, I was diagnosed with the Coronavirus.

Only days ago, it seemed so far away from me. I didn't know anyone in my town who had it.

Today, I have it.

I started this blog in March because of all the unknowns the COVID-19 pandemic would bring.

My spirit was burdened. I saw the groundswell of fear, panic and anxiety.

My desire was to use my writing to point people to Christ.

I wanted to encourage others to stay the course with their faith.

And if folks didn’t know the Lord, my hope was, and still is, that they seek Him while He may yet be found.  (Isaiah 55:6)

Admittedly, I was also soothing myself. Being a devotional writer is cathartic and spiritually powerful. Through writing, I am reminded of my Father's Word and His promises.

News reports indicate a swelling number of COVID cases, particularly in my county here in Kansas.

But for me, it didn’t fully register…until 2 days ago.

That’s when I received a call from my health department.

“Mrs. Williams, I’m calling to let you know that you have tested positive for the Coronavirus.”

Come again? I needed for her to repeat that.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous…even a bit fearful of the worst.

I’m a Christian, but I’m human. We’ve all heard the horror stories and seen footage of how this virus can wreak havoc on the body.

That's where I draw upon my faith foundation.

You see, it is in our weakness, that God is made strong. (2 Corinthians 13:9)

And we can acknowledge those fearful moments…just don’t stay in that space.

I’m writing Praises in the Pandemic to:

1) share my faith and edify Jesus Christ

2) encourage others who may be diagnosed or those who know someone who has been diagnosed.

Readers, let me be clear. I’m not a minister. I’m not a preacher. I don’t know the Bible front and back.

But I do know from life experience that Jesus is real, that He continually makes a way out of no way, and that His love for me and for you and for the people of this Earth is beyond what we can comprehend.  

I know from experience that the God I serve is a Healer. 2 Chronicles 7:14; 30:20; Psalm 30:2; 103:3; 107:20; 147:3;

I know that the God I serve is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that I may ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Healing is a benefit of my salvation and I CLAIM IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. I fully expect my complete healing to manifest. By faith, I will come out in the number of “recoveries” side of this. Thank you for allowing me to share my HEALING JOURNEY with you.

 For they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony… Revelation 12:11