Who Are Our Examples To Follow During This Crazy COVID time?
“Who are you listening to during Covid-19? Who do you trust?”
By Philip K. Hardin, MDiv, LMFT, LPC
By Philip K. Hardin, MDiv, LMFT, LPC
I grew up reading biographies of great men and women.
As I read the stories of our founding fathers, read about brave women who risked their lives for others, or read of great military leaders that fought for our freedom, I saw the world expand and I was inspired to believe I could do great things.
I remember my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Taylor, telling my mother: “Phil can be anything he wants to be!” …Wow! She believed in me and I was inspired by her declaration (I learned later; she was telling all the mothers the same thing!).
I have always believed that inspiration is a far greater fuel for the journey than just perspiration.
Who do you most admire?
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” – Proverbs 13:20.
Christian biographer Eric Metaxas made this observation in his book “7 Men”. He says:
“I’ve come to the conclusion that, in our culture, we’ve skimped on providing role models—for young people especially—and I’m convinced that this is tremendously important. We learn by observing the lives of others, whether the people around us, or figures we observe in the media, or figures we read about. We need to see the lives of real human beings lived out in ways that help us figure out how to live out our own lives.”
Role models are a gift from God to teach us how to persevere in suffering.
They provide real stories about real life.
Men who love their wives provide a model for what a lifelong marriage commitment looks like—even when it’s hard. Godly women show us how to make wise decisions. Honest and vulnerable people model how to deal with failure and every other facet of living a whole and holy life.
God provides stories of real people engaged in real life circumstances to inspire and instruct us through all sorts of life challenges.
Who can we look to a as model from the Bible in this season of COVID-19?
I offer thoughts from Pastor Joshua Ryan Butler at Redemption Church in Tempe, Arizona in his article: The Great Physician for Covid 19. He invites us to consider the “bleeding woman” of Luke 8:43-48 as a role model.
When the woman first comes to Jesus, we’re told she’d “had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone” (Luke 8:43).
Consider this. First, she’s lonely. She’s been social distancing for 12 years!
Second, the bleeding woman is also broke. She’s spent “all her living” on doctors.
Finally, and most importantly, she’s sick. This woman is bleeding out; she is dying.
This woman is us. Sick, broke, and lonely. But, even in her desperation, she is a role model in that she realizes she needs answers bigger than those doctors can offer. She goes to Jesus!
Too often we forget to include God in our day to day affairs and instead float around for years trying to gut it out, figure it out, or simply control it.
So, where do we go? What do we do? Is there any hope for our condition? Let’s follow her to find out.
The Power of Being Known
Jesus doesn’t only address the woman’s sickness; he also addresses her loneliness. I love how he calls her out: “Who was it that touched me?” (v. 45). He is not simply interested in her physical healing, but He wants her to be known.
Jesus declares: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (v. 48). He calls her daughter. This is an expression of fatherly care. Jesus doesn’t call her “inconvenience” or “nuisance.” He calls her “child.” When we approach God in faith, he greets us not with a lecture but with an embrace.
Jesus’s intent is to bring more than just physical healing. He wants to make her whole by touching her emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. As the sick, broke, and lonely, we can reach out for comfort and help. Jesus calls us out of hiding—not to condemn us, but to make us whole.
What a great story. Certainly, Jesus is our true role model. He provides a story of a humble sick woman as a role model to guide us to holistic healing in this Covid 19 season.
Three truths to consider on your journey:
1. You need Older Mentors:
We need to look to wise men and women who are ahead of us. Ask God to provide older mentors who are ahead of you that you can copy and imitate and trust to reflect Jesus. God will use them in your life. “I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” – I Corinthians 11:1.
(Biographies of men and women of character count)
"Seven Men and Seven Women and Their Secret to Greatness"
"You Can't Go Wrong By Doing Right"
2. You need to be aware of Younger Followers:
Be aware that there are younger people who are looking to you as a role model. There are younger people who look to you for a voice of wisdom and direction. Never underestimate who is watching you. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” – I Timothy 4:12.
(Check your words, tone, and actions – are these what I want others doing?)
3. You need Community:
We need to look to one another to help us in the journey. Life is a WE; - a Team sport. It is a sobering thing, yet it is an absolutely biblical thing that we look to one another. We need to be connected to others and live in community. We all need help. Who is on your TEAM?
(Don’t let face masks and 6 ft. apart keep you from quality connection with others)
“But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.” – Hebrews 6:11-12.
We need role models.
We are role models.
We need each other.
Ride ON!
Phil Hardin works as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with Hardin Life Resources practicing in both Jackson, MS and Fairhope, AL.
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