While we remain on alert concerning the threats of coronavirus, God teaches us to “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). Worrying about coronavirus will not change your circumstance or lower your chance of infection. It will not help you fight off illness or move you to action. Worrying about COVID-19 (or anything else for that matter) will only increase trouble. People in terrible situations are better off than people who incessantly worry about terrible situations.
Rather than worrying and being anxious, Jesus calls us to respond with prayer and trust in Him (Matt. 6:33-34; Phil. 4:6). We need not worry, because we know the One who gives us victory over sin, sickness, and death (1 Cor. 15:54, 55-57). Remind yourself continually that it takes the same amount of energy to worry as it does to pray and trust in the Lord. One leads to peace, the other to panic. Choose wisely.
C.S. Lewis’ advice spoken during the threat of the atomic bomb 72 years ago is relevant in the age of COVID-19. He states: “The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that), but they need not dominate our minds.”[1]
As believers, if we should worry about anything, it should be about how to love people well. The Psalmist encourages us, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (Ps. 37:3, ESV). Peter reminds us to press on whether we’re facing evil, persecuted by others, or burdened by pandemics. We should trust in the Lord knowing that “It is better to suffer for doing good if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Pet 3:17, ESV).
While worry is common to humankind, facing troubles and threats with courage and trusting in the Lord is our calling. We all must face death eventually, and thanks to Jesus, we can face it with confidence. Like Paul, let’s remember that to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil. 1:21). We truly have nothing to fear. Not from the coronavirus, the Ebola virus, natural disaster, or anything else (cf., Rom 8:38-39).
Press on, my friends. Walk in strength. Love and do good to all people. Use your health to serve, not to hide. Jesus is sovereign over it all. And yes, this too shall pass, including coronavirus!
Be well, my friends!
Mike
[1] C. S. Lewis, “On Living in an Atomic Age,” In Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays, 1948.
