I’m pretty tired of being at home. It’s starting to feel like Groundhog Day.

To be honest, this has nothing to do with a global pandemic.

In fact, being stuck at home has defined my life for years now, ever since complications from my spinal cord injury began limiting more and more of my independence. So when social distancing recently became a thing, I felt like I was already an expert.

Throughout this experience I’ve learned a lot from another guy who knew quite a bit about spending time in isolation.

The apostle Paul wasn’t quarantined at home, but he was locked in prison. He had firsthand experience of what it looked like to gain strength in the difficult circumstance of isolation.

I see three big things we can take away from Paul’s letters from prison in regards to being stuck in isolation:

1. Prioritize relationships

One of the most difficult things about being quarantined can be the potential for feelings of purposeless or aimlessness. I have struggled with this often, which is why I’ve drawn great encouragement from Paul’s example of remaining productive in jail by prioritizing people.

Paul is constantly using his time of isolation to write letters of encouragement to churches or individuals he cares about. How can we prioritize the relationships in our own lives, even during this season of social distancing? A quick note, email, or phone call can make a massive difference in the lives of many in this panic fueled time.

2. Practice generosity

When I’m frustrated or in the most pain, it’s tempting to only think about myself. With our backs against the wall, will we still think of others?

When crisis hits, we can hoard essential groceries, price gouge desperate customers, and only look out for ourselves. Yet, we have the option to serve someone else at a cost to ourselves.

Paul is constantly thinking of others during even the bleakest seasons of his life. In the book of Philemon, he even goes as far as to offer to pay off someone else’s debt. Remember where he is…in prison. Not exactly the ideal location for financial flourishing.

We may feel the pressure in our current economic troubles, but let’s not allow that to scare us from following Paul’s example of generosity.

3. Remain hopeful in prayer

The story is not over, no matter how bleak it looks. Several of Paul’s letters from jail conclude with him making comments such as, “I’ll visit soon,” or asking for a guest room to be prepared for him. This could seem a bit presumptuous considering he remains locked up indefinitely. His example of remaining expectant encourages me to continue believing and hoping for miraculous deliverance in my own life. God can flip the script at any moment, regardless of how impossible a situation may seem.

I hope you are able to keep your sanity no matter how isolated you feel right now and that you can find encouragement from Paul’s example as I have.

Let’s remain hopeful in prayer that good things are ahead and lean on one another to navigate this storm together.

Have a great day of social distancing knowing you are definitely not alone.

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