The entire world finds itself in unchartered territory. Most of us have never seen a global emergency such as the Covid -19 pandemic that we now have. Nobody knows the full effect that it will have on our way of life, or when it will come to an end.
The longer this situation lasts, the more victims we see. As the circle of this crisis’ impact widens, the very livelihood of so many people is threatened. Every time a wage earner’s income is lost, his buying power disappears and the likelihood of a global recession increases.
It is only natural to feel anxious when you look at how fragile our world is. Things went the wrong way so fast! It would be utter foolishness to deny the threats that we all face, as some do, thinking that it is how faith works. Dark clouds are rising. However, it is not our purpose to add to the fear that is out there – the media will take care of that. Thank God, we have our own media to inform us! The Word has more than enough truth to inform, guide, give wisdom, and strengthen our faith in the God that we worship.
How do we, as Christians, navigate practically through these troubled waters? It goes without saying that we must hear from God more than we do from secular sources: faith comes from hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17) The more time you spend reading the Word and meditating on it, the stronger your faith will be. It will also align your thoughts with God’s, and prepare you to receive from Him in the way that He thinks is best for you.
- Consider your own testimonies – those times when you stood with your back against a wall with now way of escape, yet God came through and rescued you. He who saved you then, will save you now; He promised to never leave or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
- Contemplate the character of God. He is a good Father who loves to give good things to His children, as we see in the verses quoted below. Trust Him to be true to His character.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Matthew 6:32
- Do not look to man to be your helper. God may use some person to help you, but fix your hope on Him alone. Everybody is dealing with this threat to some level in their own way, but only God is above it all and able to help.
- Do what you can to mitigate your own situation. Be frugal, stay home, wash your hands often, and maintain social distancing.
- Do not expect God to provide for you in a specific way! The Creator of all things knows how to take care of His own.
- Do what Jesus did when He faced the horror of the cross: He looked past the pain to the joy that would follow. (Hebrews 12:1,2)
- Remember Psalm 23 which prophetically speaks about our times. Jesus is our Shepherd who leads us, provides for us, and protects us – in the presence of our enemy.
- Memorize and meditate on God’s promises instead of the threats that you see coming. Psalm 1 is a good place to start.
- Pray. God gave us an open door to the Throne Room. Enter it boldly. (Hebrews 4:15,16)
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14,15
For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper. Psalm 72:12
- Reach out to others – even in your own need and anxiety. Helping others will turn your eyes away from your own situation. There is something about this attitude that moves the hand of God – He turned things around for Job when he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10)
Tough times don’t last; this too will come to an end, and become another testimony of God’s grace toward you.
God is still the God of miracles. He still does the impossible, but He wants us to trust Him. He teaches us to walk by faith, and not by what we see around us. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Be strong – we were born again to overcome!
