Joel and Andi McMartin
  • Home
  • About
  • Give
  • Photos
  • Subscribe
  • Contact


When Life Gets Crazy

March 25, 2020 by Joel and Andi

Life sure has gotten crazy the past few weeks/months. In a blink of an eye we have gone from normal life to everything on hold, waiting for a virus to pass. I look around and see so much fear and so much uncertainty. It hits people in different ways but so many, including myself, are struggleing to adapt to the changing realities.

Personally I have struggled with seeing our ministry plans fall apart. The trips we had planned and the visits we had hoped to make. Everything that was so carefully planned out for months in advance is crumbling before my eyes. I am now living from day to day, unsure of what restricitions will come each day and what I will be able to accomplish. Others I know are struggling with the isoloation that comes with quanitine, others with the fear of what changes a virus could have on their health and family, others with the finanical impact this will have on their future, others with a loss of control over what they can and can’t do and these are just a few that come to mind.

As a leadership team we are struggleing to figure out the balance of responding in a way the is responsible but also that is not adding to the fear and struggles that many of our missionaries are facing. This is a fine line that is very challenging to walk.

It is a crazy time, but what it brings me back to is the Lord. The Lord is good and I so easily slip away from trusting in him. However if I truely have confidence in him then seeing MY plans fall away should be no problem because he holds the best plans in his hands. Seeing uncontrolable things happen around me shouldn’t phase me as He holds control of all. If fear is driving my decisions then I am looking to myself and not to him. It is a time that reminds me of God and who he is. He is the one I should be resting in. He is the one who has control of all and nothing is taking him by surprise. I need to rely on him and take things one day at a time.

Here is my prayer for myself and the church as a whole..

“Lord, as the world falls into chaos, help us to be a beacon of hope. Help us to know intimately the hope we have in you, so that we can spread that to others. Help us to turn to you. Help us to know you more as we walk through the chaos. We turn to our own strength, intelligence, planning, security, and safety so easily and forget who you are. Help us to cling just to you and let go of those other things. Help us to BE your love to the people around us. Help us to know how to best reach out and love on people in a time where people are fearful of others. Let us not be driven by fear but willing to do what you have called us to.”

Lets be faithful to pray for all that God would have of us in the days to come.

Filed Under: Updates and News

More Posts:

« Our Church Family
What the Virus Means for us »

Comments

  1. Carolyn P. says

    April 1, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    I second what Margaret Brant said!
    He is our refuge and fortress!
    Praying for you!

  2. Fran Maynard says

    March 27, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    Thank you for the update, Andi!

  3. Annette Wesolowski says

    March 25, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    It is an unstable season for all of us. Thank you for sharing the story in your world. We are stuck home, but have plenty. Toby has online services each Sunday and our small group is meeting virtually. Even had my 5 yo granddaughter video chat today and tell me how much she misses us (longest we have been apart since she was born).
    God bless your work and selves.

  4. Carolyn Gaupo says

    March 25, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    As always I love hearing from you.
    You’ve put our fears into such clear focus. This is indeed a strange time we are in. I’m zure it must be difficult being so far away from family.

    You’ve done an excellent job reminding us to put our trust in God and not ourselves or our government. God alone is in charge.

    My love to you and the family there with you and the church you serve so well. Carolyn Gaupo

  5. Sarah Hovley says

    March 25, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    Beautiful! Praying for you. And thank you!

  6. Jane Van Ryn says

    March 25, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    Thanks once again for your words of encouragement during these days of uncertainty. God is still on the throne and He is totally in control of not only our little planet but of the entire universe. Praise GOD ๐Ÿ™Œ

  7. Cheryl G. says

    March 25, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    I’d been thinking of you guys and wondered how you were doing. Thanks for the post! Praying for your encouragement and strength in the Lord to face uncertain times and changes of plans. =)

  8. Margaret Brant says

    March 25, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    Proverbs 16:9. โ€œA manโ€™s heart plans his course but the Lord determines his steps.โ€

    A good reminder that God is in control and we are in good hands.
    โ€œBe still and know I am God.โ€ Psalms 46:10-11

    Praying

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Archive

  • September 2022 (3)
  • June 2022 (1)
  • May 2022 (1)
  • November 2021 (1)
  • June 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (2)
  • March 2021 (1)
  • February 2021 (1)
  • January 2021 (1)
  • November 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (4)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • January 2020 (3)
  • October 2019 (3)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (3)
  • May 2019 (3)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (2)
  • January 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • November 2018 (4)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (5)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (3)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (5)
  • April 2017 (4)
  • March 2017 (3)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (4)
  • December 2016 (6)
  • October 2016 (5)
  • September 2016 (8)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (4)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (5)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (2)
  • October 2015 (3)
  • September 2015 (5)
  • August 2015 (4)
  • July 2015 (3)
  • June 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (2)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (3)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • January 2015 (5)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (5)
  • May 2014 (4)
  • April 2014 (4)
  • March 2014 (4)
  • February 2014 (6)
  • January 2014 (5)
  • December 2013 (5)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (6)
  • September 2013 (5)
  • August 2013 (6)
  • July 2013 (5)
  • June 2013 (7)
  • May 2013 (5)
  • April 2013 (5)
  • March 2013 (5)
  • February 2013 (4)
  • January 2013 (6)
  • December 2012 (5)
  • November 2012 (7)
  • October 2012 (7)
  • September 2012 (5)
  • August 2012 (6)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (7)
  • May 2012 (7)
  • April 2012 (6)
  • March 2012 (6)
  • February 2012 (7)
  • January 2012 (6)
  • December 2011 (6)
  • November 2011 (7)
  • October 2011 (12)
  • September 2011 (7)
  • August 2011 (3)
  • July 2011 (1)
  • June 2011 (2)
  • May 2011 (1)
  • April 2011 (2)
  • March 2011 (1)
  • February 2011 (2)

Browse posts by category

  • About
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Give
  • Photos
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Disclaimer: This personal ministry website is provided by Ethnos360 as a courtesy to its members. Ethnos360 makes no warranty regarding the accuracy of the information on these pages. Opinions expressed are provided by members in good faith, but are entirely those of the member and do not necessarily represent policy, doctrinal position, or opinions of Ethnos360. If you encounter information that you consider questionable, please e-mail the Ethnos360 web team.

Joel and Andi McMartin

© Copyright 2025 Ethnos360. All rights reserved.

Log In

  • 