Fear, Worry, and COVID-19
We are all facing a new and unknown difficulty with the COVID-19 outbreak. In such times it can be a challenge to know how we are to act and think, much less wonder how we are to help others, even those in our own homes. New challenges like this often bring fear, worry, and much stress in an already stressful world. Many also feel alone and isolated from friends, loved ones, and from all that seems normal. But are we left alone in such turbulent circumstances?
While it may seem like we are all alone, we are most certainly not. You may have friends or family near you able to help you. You can probably pick up a phone and call, text, or video chat with many people. But even more importantly, we have a God who is near and present even in our difficulty. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” A refuge is a place where we can run to and hide in. It can also be understood here as a fortress or castle that cannot be breached. Just being near a place like that would bring a sense of peace and safety wouldn’t it? Yet, the Psalmist says that God is the one who is our refuge, our strong fortress and he is near. He is not in a far-off place but is ever present with you. You could also say that God is always ready to be found at any moment of need, even in a crisis such as we are seeing today. God is nearer to you than this crisis. God is nearer to you than your own thoughts and fears.
This reminds us of another familiar verse in Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Since God is near to us and with us in our difficulty, we can run to him and hide in him by prayer and reading of his Word.
You may be asking yourself how God being near can help you. If we are honest, we have all asked that question. And it is these times of crisis that God often uses to help us see our need to rely on him rather than on ourselves. If you are fearful or anxious, what you need is peace to calm those fears. Peace is not something that can be found, however. Peace comes as a result of our reliance on God. Philippians 4:6-7 says it this way:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Peace comes to our anxious hearts by God when we run to him in prayer. When we trust in him and thankfully acknowledge his good and loving control of all things in life, then we will experience peace. Notice how this peace is described. It is “beyond all comprehension.” Meaning that it is far above human reason and understanding. It is an indescribable peace that can only be understood by the one experiencing it. This does not mean that the circumstances have changed but that God is giving you a calmness to be able to walk through the trial under his power and strength.
However, in order to have the “peace of God” you must first have the “peace with God.” But, without Christ, we simply do not have that peace. All people by nature are distanced and alienated from God due to our sin (Rom 3:23). We can do nothing to come to God on our own and we are all in desperate need of rescue from the sickness of our sin. However, God did not abandon us in our sin.
The Apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 5:1 that, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” To be justified by faith means that God declares a person right with him, not on the basis of what they do, but based only on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God, out of love for humanity, sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfectly sinless life and to take the punished of death for all those who call on his name (Rom 10:8-13).
There is no hope in uncertain times outside of the love of God. There is no other way for us to true and lasting peace in our hearts without first having peace with God through the salvation that comes through faith in Christ (Rom 5:6-11; Eph 2:8-9).
How do we access that forgiveness and peace with God through Christ? By faith. Faith is a wholehearted trust in Jesus, who took the punishment for our sin on the cross. If you have not placed your faith in Christ, we would urge you to do so now. As the Bible teaches, “Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation'” (2 Cor 6:2).
As we started out looking at Psalm 46 and the nearness of God, let us not move too quickly past that incredible truth. For Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-34 that we do not need to worry about life, clothing, or food because God will provide for us and he cares for us. Jesus uses an illustration to prove his point by saying that God clothes the flowers with such great splendor and he feeds the birds. While God cares for the flowers and the birds and he sustains them all, God cares more for humans and his children than the animals. As God provides for the animals, he will much more provide for us.
We are still discovering creatures in the oceans, animals and other creatures in the rain forests, and new planets and galaxies in the universe. There are countless more creatures and planets that have not been seen by human eyes but they are seen by God and he cares for and sustains them. How much more, then, can we hope in and find joy in knowing that God has said that he is near to us! He is with us (Ps 46:11) and is our refuge and strength in times of trouble (Ps 46:1; 18:1-3). God sees and cares for us at all times. Again, trials and times of crisis are often God’s means of reminding us of man’s frailty and how we are all totally dependent on him regardless if we acknowledge it or not. Trust in him and call out to him asking him to help your unbelief.
Fear and worry are difficult indeed. Yet, as we looked at a few of the many verses dealing with these issues, neither fear, worry or any circumstance is out of God’s control. While we may not know what will happen tomorrow or next week or next year, we know that God will provide for us (Matt 6:31-34). “Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8).
If you live in the Jackson Hole area and you would like to talk more with someone about your fear and anxiety or any number of concerns, you can contact matt@cornerstonejh.com. I would also invite you to check out Cornerstone Church (cornerstonejh.com) which is currently streaming services on Sundays at 10 am (cornerstonejh.com/livestream).
Suggestions for further study:
Psalms 27; 42-43; 46; 62
Matthew 6:25-34
Philippians 4:4-9
1 Peter 5:6-7