3/13/20
The World is Afraid of Corona Virus
I don’t have much access to the internet, but I still know about the Corona Virus.
I don’t watch the fear overtaking the world on a daily basis. I learn about things like quarantines and stock market crashes sometimes days after the fact, but I still know they’re happening.
I know the world fears this virus.
But I don’t.
I am not afraid of the Corona Virus.
Logically, on a personal level, I see that this virus has a very high recovery rate and I am young with a good immune system. I’m not afraid as I travel from country to country spreading God’s love that this virus poses too much threat to me. I’d be a fool not to take precautions and think I’m invincible, but I see no reason to carry fear.
That being said, we should certainly take care to prevent the spread of this virus to those members of our society who are more vulnerable to its effects. That is a very, very loving thing to do. It is a kind, caring, and compassionate thing to recognize the needs and vulnerabilities of our neighbors and to serve one another with the mindset that we should be careful for one another’s sake.
But cautious doesn’t mean afraid.
It is far too easy to let fear stop the work of God’s love. If we’re too afraid to go places or love on people then God’s love stops spreading. That impacts eternity, not just this world.
Fear is one of the favorite tools of the enemy. Satan likes it when we’re afraid. He likes it so much that he keeps playing all of his cards until he goes too far and stops his own schemes in their tracks. He has no patience or fruits of the Spirit so he just can’t help but keep going until he goes too far and defeats his own self. So, I feel assured that this fear in the world will decrease with time. Brilliant people will work against Satan to come up with methods of stopping this virus and probably find a vaccine eventually, and in addition to those people working against Satan’s schemes, I know God has amazing plans to work this out for an ending of good.
People are dying. People are sick. People are afraid. Those aren’t good things. I don’t deny that. I don’t downplay that. I don’t understand it. I don’t have answers for how it all works out in the end. I’ll even admit that if this was another virus that was more deadly, like Ebola, I’d probably be struggling more to not hold onto fear. But struggle doesn’t mean impossible. It doesn’t mean unable to trust God. It doesn’t mean not trying my best, turning to prayer, and seeking assurance from the Lord who is over everything and knows me and my fears and anxieties intimately. It’s hard sometimes, including times like now when there is a virus creating fear in the world, but I trust that God is a good God who can overcome these bad things with a plan that far exceeds the best good we humans can possibly imagine.
One of the most widely written phrases in the Bible is “do not fear.” Any time God is involved in something that’s about to happen in the Bible, His word is to reassure and tell His people not to be afraid. God’s always working in our world. He’s working right now, today, doing marvelous things. Even in the few days I’ve been here in Peru, I’ve seen and heard of the works of God that are continuing even now in this time when there is fear in the world.
We don’t have to be afraid.
If we let go of our fear we can be more effective for the Kingdom.
I’m not saying it’s easy to let go of fear. We all have those things we’re terrified of. For me, this Corona Virus isn’t one of those things, and that makes it so much easier for me to speak out against the fear I see in the world. We need people like that when we’re afraid. I’m doing my best to share my peace with the world because peace is divine. I could be terrified right now, but I’m blessed with peace. I hope these words can provide some reassurance to those who do struggle with this fear. I hope this serves as an invitation to seek a relationship with the God who is bigger than all of this world. Peace is easier to find when you have a relationship with God. Letting go of fear is easier when you know you can give that fear to God and He will take care of it for you because He’s bigger than it is and it doesn’t scare Him.
There will be times in the future when it’s harder for me to not be afraid. Those are the times when I need to read and trust my own words I’m writing right now and the words of reassurance of others in my community that remind me of the command “do not fear.”
We need each other to get through these hard times and hard fears. Don’t let fear isolate you away from the peace and reassurance your community, friends, and family can provide. We need each other. We need our doctors and nurses and counselors and bakers and fast food workers and plumbers and garbage disposal employees in order to live our day to day life. Don’t let fear stop you from the vital role you play in this day-to-day world. Keep shining God’s love.
And for the love of all that is good, please take precautions to stop the spread of Corona Virus.
It doesn’t have to consume your life.
Just be responsible, and remember the One who is bigger than all of this. Seek His peace. This world is going to be alright because we’ve got a pretty AWESOME God taking care of it.
