Five Ways to Face a Pandemic
with Faith
We live in scary times. Wars and rumors of wars. Natural
disasters. Coronavirus has struck our nation. Will it visit
our town? Our home? Yes, it may. But I’d like to share five truths I’m hanging
onto as we walk together on shaky ground.
1.
Remember
God is on His Throne.
I’ve been giving this subject a lot of thought as my husband
and I navigate the senior years. Can we pray for wellness and expect God to
heal us when we are in the final decades of life? Well, we pray, but we also
know that we are in God’s hands experiencing an age and stage that He has
designed. So we rest in the assurance that He is in control no matter our age
and no matter the world situation.
When Job questioned God’s wisdom about his own illness, God
never “explained” things to Job. He simply pointed out His Sovereignty: “Who
shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the
clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness . . . when I said, ‘This
far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’” (Job
38:8-11).
That same God governs nature today, from the most powerful
waves to the most potent virus. Calm your fears by remembering God is in
control. Pray and ask Him to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
And do your part to halt the spread as well. Wash your
hands. Respect boundaries. Be considerate. Look after those in need. This is a
great time to represent God to your neighbors.
2.
Remember
God is present; He will never leave you.
God has promised: “And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). Like the song says, you’ll never walk
alone.
Sometimes He touches us through the hearts of friends
offering assistance, through the hands of medical personnel offering healing,
through the wise counsel of pastors and teachers. Sometimes His Spirit calms us
as we look to Him in the night. Remember: “For the Spirit God gave us does not
make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7).
As you discipline yourself to wash your hands and care for
your family, discipline yourself to look to God for His peace and power to
soldier through tough times. Calm your feelings by remembering God is your
refuge and strength.
3.
Remember
God uses all things to the Christian’s good.
How in the world can something called a “pandemic” be used
for good? Perhaps it makes us more mindful of our blessings. Perhaps it forces
us to interact more thoughtfully. Perhaps it brings us to our knees as we seek
God’s good for ourselves and our nation.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those
God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son . . .
” (Romans 8:28-29).
The greatest good that can come of any experience is that it
makes us more like Christ. Ask for wisdom and commonsense in caring for your
family, going about your work, managing your finances. Watch how God works in
your own life and the lives of those around you. Calm your panic by remembering
God works in mysterious ways.
4.
Remember
God has greater things in mind than our personal comfort.
We want a quick fix. We want “the answer.” We like to be
healthy and happy and go our merry ways without a care in the world. And
perhaps without a thought about God. Facing challenges toughens us, builds our
character and makes us consider what purpose God has in mind for us and our
families.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your
faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and
to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to
godliness, mutual affection, and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess
these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being
ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1
Peter 1:5-8).
Do we not need such qualities? And is this not an ideal time
for them to sprout and grow? What if going through this tough time will bring us
to a better place in life?
Calm your present discomfort by considering how you may
someday look back and say it was worth it all to gain deeper relationships with
others and a deeper knowledge of God. God is a good good Father who overcomes
even calamities with good.
5.
Remember
God offers heaven when life on earth becomes unbearable.
This is not all there is. Like the book title: Heaven is for Real.
Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were
not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for
you?” (John 14:2)
If life on this earth becomes unbearable, Jesus will take us
home. Are you ready to meet Him? He came to earth, died to take the punishment
we deserve for our sins. Our part is to recognize we need a Savior and
acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives. If you’ve never done that, now is the
time to pray, ask forgiveness and thank Jesus for showing His great love for
you.
When I was a girl, I often pondered a sign posted on the
front of a local home that faced a stop sign: “Prepare to Meet Your God.” Are
you prepared? Calm your worries about
the future by remembering heaven awaits—now or later. Eternal life begins the
moment we leave this earth. Be ready.
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