Last night my husband took a shovel and turned over all the ground in our garden. Our garden isn't huge, but it is a very big job for one person to work the ground. Working the ground before planting is necessary. Farmers do this all the time. Hard ground can't accept seeds. Sure, once in a while a seed might take root in hard ground, but not normally (unless it is a weed and we don't want weeds in our lives).
God tells us in Jeremiah 3:3 to "Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns." Hosea 10:12 says it even better. It states, "Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD."
This is exactly what we all can be doing during this time of quarantine and social distancing. This time (again, if we allow it) will remove the dross, the unwanted junk out of our lives. It will remind us what's important. We can once again focus on our families.
The Bible talks about dross. Dross is the waste, the unwanted stuff that comes out of metals like silver or gold when they are fired. Each time the gold is put into the fire the impurities rise to the surface. The artist then scrapes those off and does it again until eventually there are no more impurities.
What if God has chosen to use this COVID-19 pandemic to take away the dross in our family life so our families will grow closer and stronger? God will use anything in our lives to strengthen the good. To strengthen our relationship with Him and with people in our lives. I am not saying He brought this into the world, but even when bad things come into the world God can bring great good from them. Joseph says to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good"
When our world is functioning without restriction, it encourages tons of activity. You gotta do this. You gotta do that. You gotta play in all these sports. You gotta do ______________. Fill in the blank. It is as if the world system is trying to tear apart our families and stop us from spending time in quiet and thoughtful contemplation.
One last thing. You might ask how you can break up that fallow ground in your heart. Just ask God to help. Pray something like this: "God, please break up the hard shell around my heart so I can hear from you."
That's all you gotta do. He just wants you to look to Him. Give Him permission to plant His seeds of Love in you. You will not regret it.