Intimacy Over Isolation

Intimacy Over Isolation 

These are the days of…..isolation. 

Living in Honduras has already slowed my life in a myriad of ways. I notice I don’t rush to get up. I’m not worried if we are late. My to-do list doesn’t get all done, but my heart is ok. Because tomorrow will come soon enough. There has been more reading, sewing, and art. Music and writing has flooded our home. We all sit and laugh more. 

I’ve already felt a little distanced from our friends and family back home in the states. Life here in Honduras has been strange, different, and hard to get used to, but we were just settling in when the virus decided to go global.  Now with new restrictions and crazy curfews, we are forced to adapt again. Our kids have been wonderful, adjusting to this crazy new life again and again. Jason and I have been forced to be creative, rely on our missionary friends, and do more out-of-our-comfort things then ever before. 

For example, we hang our clothes out to dry way more often to save on electricity. We’ve learned to heat up water in the microwave to do dishes with hot water. Sweeping is a daily chore and the dust is never ending. Dogs howl in the middle of the night. Babies can be heard babbling at 1am every single night. There is this bird, which makes a weird noise, but I can hear him at the SAME TIME every single night: 11:30 pm. 

Eggs are all over the place and readily available. The chickens obviously missed the memo about social distancing. Milk can only be bought in bags. Sometimes cold. Sometimes not. There is no butter. Or cheese. We do have safe drinking water. We are all learning to be close to one another. Play and slow down. We watch the animal safaris on Facebook Live everyday. Go for walks. Draw. Paint. Listen to one of our favorite authors read from his first book. Lots and lots of books and reading. 

Although life was slow before, it has come to stop now. I still have stuff to do. Even though I live with six other people, the isolation is starting to get to me. I broke down yesterday and cried. I never considered myself a “social butterfly” but the isolating is hard. So much harder! 

Maybe loneliness feels like you’ve been called OUT of something….but what if you are being called TO something?

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A by-product of this slower, isolated life is the loneliness. When God calls us OUT He always calls us TO. Maybe loneliness feels like you’ve been called OUT of something….but what if you are being called TO something? 

What if God uses this virus and time of isolation, to create in me a heart passionate about Him? What if God is calling me out of a life of busy to put me where I am lonely? All of this could be to draw me to Himself. Loneliness calls from my heart to say I am unloved, unsteady, and unseen. God says, you are loved, you are safe, and you are seen. 

Let’s change the narrative to, these are the days of….intimacy. 

What if God is calling us all out of a life of lonely to a life of intimacy? Sure we are being called to be alone, to isolate, but are not called to be lonely. We are made for intimacy. Community might be broken right now, but intimacy is not. There is an opportunity to dive deep into relationships. Not just those we live with, but with God Himself. The world is a little upside down, but God’s ways are often upside down too. 

I am determined to use this isolation to deepen my intimacy with God. I began thinking more and more about intimacy with God. What does that practically look like? How do we have intimacy with God? Because I love practical help and not just “pie-in-the-sky” advice, I’ve decided to create a resource. I’m in the process right now, but wanted to let you know it will be available next month. In this resource you will find help with growing closer to God through Biblical truths, personal experience, and hands-on practical tips. Pray for me as I create this resource to help you choose intimacy over isolation!

Sarah E. Frazer is a writer and Bible study mentor at sarahefrazer.com. She is the wife of Jason and mother of five who all serve as full-time missionaries in Honduras. Her passion is to encourage women to fall in love with the Bible. Sarah is the author of several Bible study resources for women. She share tools for deep-rooted Bible study at sarahefrazer.com. Follow her on Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/sarah_e_frazer) and join her free prayer challenge at sarahefrazer.com/prayer