Fear & Anxiety… And Also Coronavirus
“When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.”
~ Psalm 56:3 (NLT)
The Coronavirus has officially been classified as a pandemic. Fear and anxiety continue to spread, proliferated by the media. And many churches are closing their doors as a precautionary measure.
Here too, in Western North Carolina (Boone, NC), panic has gripped the population. Nearly every event, meeting, and gathering of any kind has been postponed - indefinitely.
This is especially true among business owners who are worried about the economic ramifications. And rightly so it would seem. Now, you may ask?
What should I do?
How should I feel?
What does this mean for me?
Many asked Martin Luther the same questions when the Black Plague re-emerged in Europe in 1527. To this fellow-servants, Luther wrote about whether one may flee from a deadly plague:
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
(https://blogs.lcms.org/2020/read-luthers-letter-about-plague/)
I don't have a quick fix for you in these moments. But I can point you to some key Biblical truth that I hope you will find helpful in circumstances such as these.
DO NOT FEAR.
Among the most often repeated commands in the Bible is this: “Do Not Be Afraid.”
It is not necessarily a call for us to risk our lives unduly, and it is not an instruction to brush off warnings or precautions against COVID19. It is not ignorance. You are permitted to be concerned with what is happening in the world around you.
Unless you have a damaged amygdala (which is certainly not a blessing), we are all susceptible to fear. And chances are you cannot shake it by sheer force of will. In many cases, fear can keep us alive. God's command is not for us to try harder and thus rid ourselves of fear's grip. By ourselves, that would seem to be impossible.
Really, it's all about focus. Are you preoccupied, feeding fear attention? No doubt it will continue to grow till it consumes the entirety of you. At the same time, you can't simply ignore it. “Out of sight, out of mind.” So they say...
In the end, our focus must be shifted. So that we may have a reasonable view of that which we are afraid, from a proper and sound perspective.
“17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
~2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)
Focus on and find comfort in God and His Word.
Nearly every “Do Not Fear” admonition I can think of is accompanied by the better promise of God's ever-present help. So, fear then is an opportunity to turn and trust God no matter the circumstances.
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary.No one can measure the depths of His understanding.”
~ Isaiah 40:28 (NLT)
Suffice it to say, there is much much more to explore with regard to God's sovereignty.
It is worth noting at this time simply this: Coronavirus and such things are not beyond God. Though at times we may not understand from our finite perspectives, we can trust God because He is perfect and completely trustworthy (Psalm 119:138).
He has made all things and holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). And so, when we are troubled to our very depths, it is in Him our fears may be turned into faith.
Martin Luther, that same man who encouraged people to remain faithful through the Black Plague, also penned a glorious song many still sing to this day - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. In its final refrain, he encourages us with these words:
“God’s word forever shall abide,
No thanks to foes, who fear it;
For God himself fights by our side
With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house,
Goods, honor, child or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away,
They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever.”
(https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rebeccaflorencemiller/2014/10/mighty-fortress-ebola/)
BE THE CHURCH.
In my conversations with others about Coronavirus, it is really the threat and impact of quarantine that has most people nervous. Already churches, particularly large ones, are suspending corporate gatherings for an undetermined amount of time. I am not questioning their decisions to do so.
I only ask that though you restrict your public interaction, do not isolate yourself from the counsel and encouragement of brothers and sisters. We were made to be social beings. And Christians cannot be so by themselves.
“You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
~ Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)
“Do Not Fear” may be one of the most repeated commands, but the greatest is clear: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind... [And] love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40, Romans 13:8).
It is through life on life interaction that an anxious heart may be lifted by a kind word (Proverbs 12:25).
At no time has it been possible to be physically apart and yet socially connected more than today. Use your phone and social media for something profitable for a change.
We cannot meet. Yet, we cannot be alone.
PRAY.
Last but not least – pray!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
~Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Pray for China. Pray for Italy. Our country. Your neighbors. Your family. For all those who have already been so deeply impacted by Coronavirus Disease (COVID19), meet them in prayer.
For all those who believe, it may seem simple, but it is also our source of power and peace.
And so...
Be reasonable and responsible.
Meet God in these times when it is tempting to be overcome by fear and anxiety, knowing He is with you, helping you to face whatever today brings (Matthew 6:31-34).
As it is helpful, consider listening to the World Health Organization (WHO) with this perspective. They may be overly cautious but it is to save lives and lessen the duration of this disease.