10 Ways Coronavirus Can Change Your Life for the Better

God Is Always Accomplishing Miracles

A worldwide virus is not an unusual way for God to work.

It’s quite possible—in fact it’s probable—that God intends to and is already accomplishing miracles in the wake of COVID-19. God values our transformation. Until we are uncomfortable, desperate, and despairing, we don’t often recognize and seek His power.

When catastrophes happen, we must consider that God is at work and longing to bring about change in us.

Since healthy change occurs collectively in body, mind, and soul, here are 10 simple ways the COVID-19 could improve your overall health and change your life for better:

1. Renewed (or New) Prayer Life 

We should all pray for the virus to be contained and eradicated, and for the sick to be healed. We should hold up the grieving to feel comfort and the world’s medical staff to endure. We should also pray for hearts to change.

During crisis, we lament, request, and intercede pretty easily. But let’s not forget to confess our sins or to praise and thank God for who He is and what He does in crisis or not. God is good, He has always been good, and He always does good.

Praying from this perspective will change what you expect from God (even in a crisis) and will change how you love and worship Him. (Psalm 16:10-11)

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2. A Slower, More Peaceful Pace of Life

Does it really take canceled games, closed offices, and online school for us to realize that we are too busy? Let’s cherish the opportunity to stay home out of the rat-race. Get more sleep. Read some books.

If you can, plan your work around your day instead of your day around your work. Doing simple things you normally don’t have time for can will reveal how stressed-out and off-balance your non-virus life is.

Prioritize doing things you love and begin enjoying a slower life. (Psalm 15)

3. Increased Family Time

Eat your meals together. Watch movies. Play board games. Take advantage of everyone having the same schedule. This may take some adjustment and grace. Our normal family schedules are so chaotic that we are rarely home at the same times except to sleep.

Families with small children may feel the added hardship of a quarantine the most because they rely on activities to break up the day. Get creative with your backyard or make a new play-space in your house so your family time can be one of enjoyment rather than stress over germs. (Ephesians 5:19-21)

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4. Greater Empathy and Patience

It’s easy to panic, blame, or judge during a crisis. A national emergency is inconvenient. Not everyone responds to crisis the same way. Let’s all hold our tongues for a moment before we respond to posts, notifications, speeches, and announcements.

Empathy dictates that I try to see the world through someone else’s perspective.

Patience dictates that I control myself so other people can process and respond at their own pace.

These two skills are difficult to groom outside of catastrophe. Let’s pause and learn them now. (Colossians 3:12-13)

5. Reduced Carbon Footprint

Coronavirus is an invitation to stay out of many stores and public places. Reducing your time in the car, bus, or train reduces pollution everywhere. Reduced travel also creates public spaces that are friendlier, cleaner, and less stressful—not to mention, we’re all invited to enjoy more time at home.

By staying home because you have to, you might consider practicing the art of conservation. Perhaps a new habit of driving less will carry over into your life after COVID-19. (Genesis 2:15)

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6. New Outdoor Habits

This is a perfect time to begin a routine of taking walks, running in the park, kayaking, biking, sitting on your patio, or incorporating any another regular outdoor activity. We all have outside settings available to us, but often we are too busy to use them regularly.

With a looser schedule, you can begin an outdoor habit that if you maintain it, will produce huge rewards for your emotional and physical health in the future.

Being outside also provides a tangible atmosphere of worship and prayer. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

7. Adjusted Financial Priorities

Crashing stock markets and vanishing retirement funds create significant anxiety and fear. In the face of economic failure, remaining calm becomes exceedingly difficult.

However, our faltering economy gives us each a golden opportunity to examine the source of our security. To help reduce your dependency on money, pay off your debts, minimize your expenditures, and give generously.

While financial saving and planning is important, a down-turn in the economy might spotlight the influence that your financial security has over you. (Philippians 4:19)

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8. Opportunities to Catch Up

Whether it’s cleaning closets, scanning photographs, painting a room, or doing household repairs, you probably have a lot of jobs around your house that need your attention. Use this time to catch up on things you need to do but never have time to do.

You can probably make a list of 10 projects that don’t even require you leaving the house to accomplish them. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

9. Personal Growth

During this change of pace that coronavirus is requiring, you can choose to focus on some personal growth areas. Read, study, set up counseling. Taking care of our spiritual and emotional selves often takes a back burner to more demanding tasks.

Over the next few weeks, you might have a little extra time in your schedule to work on yourself. Take advantage of the opportunity. If you’re growing and changing emotionally and spiritually, everything around you will improve.

A positive outlook also reduces obsession over the crises at hand. (2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Corinthians 15:30-34)

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10. Redefined Relationships

Instead of using technology as a social escape, divide your technology time between work and intentional social connection. A quarantine reminds us how much we need meaningful, physical connection to the people we know and love.

Use your social time to FaceTime on the phone (or speak face-to-face in person), rather than engaging in endless hours of surfing social media. Practice intentional interactions for the sole purpose of love and friendliness, and focus on real conversation. (Galatians 5:22-26)

We’ve been offered a window to a slower life, and we should take it. Yes, we have to worry about germs and social contact. We are cognizant of a suffering and fearful world. But right now, the majority our schedule will probably be spent in adaptations.

Why not make necessary adaptations that will benefit our lives long-term while we have cause and motive? These new perspectives and practices can continue long after the coronavirus had died out.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This previously-written article has become a resource for many as we face growing fear and anxiety due to the Coronavirus pandemic. God is ALWAYS our source of protection, strength and peace during unknown times. In addition, the following articles may offer more encouragement for all to remember as we face the trials of COVID-19 together:

• Do Not Fear! 10 Verses about Fear & Anxiety to Remind Us That God is in Control
• Prayers for Peace Amidst Pandemic Fear
• Powerful Prayers for Coronavirus - Those Sick and Those Worried
• What “No Harm Shall Overcome You” in Psalm 91:10 Means for the Coronavirus
• "Be Still and Know That I Am God": Meaning & Promise of Psalm 46:10

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