As all of us deal with the life-disrupting challenges brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, I am reminded of Psalm 46. 1-3,7: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging….The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
The great “good news” for us as Christians is that whatever chaos we might experience, our Heavenly Father is in control. Our relationship with Him through Jesus is our certain hope, our guarantee of greater glory ahead as we trust Him. More than that, we have the promise of His presence with us now as we navigate these uncertain times.
That “freedom from fear” allows us to seek the Spirit’s direction for openings to serve others and speak His peace into their storm experiences. This present crisis provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to show the world the peace a relationship with Jesus gives us. Further, it provides an opening for us to share how others, struggling with uncertainty, fear, and even panic, can find the true answer in a relationship with Jesus. Let’s walk through this virus crisis remembering 1 John 4.18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”