Fear Not and Follow


Peace over panic
   Faith over fear
      




This past weekend, President Trump announced essentially another month of self-distancing to get us through this coronavirus pandemic. And I don’t know about your newsfeed on social media, but mine is all over the place. From people calling this fear-mongering, to people referring to it as a stay-cation. People are panicking that we’ll be quarantined/given shelter-in-place orders and unable to access necessities. Others are panicking that the lock-downs aren’t tight enough. Some people are posting ingenious ways they’re staying active and busy—and others are posting how bored they are… 

I wouldn’t be surprised if Noah was in heaven rolling his eyes at our inability or unwillingness to self-distance. He and his immediate family were ‘quarantined’ on an ark with thousands of animals. [Can you imagine that smell?!?] He was stuck on that ship for almost an entire year! (We can be stuck in our homes for a month and a half.) [Though I’d venture to guess some of you are fighting a smell in your house with so many bodies home all the time…] Thanks to technology, and essential and life-sustaining businesses still being open, most of us are able to “only” be inconvenienced throughout this. [Though I will side-note here that my heart sympathizes with those that are alone throughout this, especially those that fall in the high-risk categories.]

But I feel impressed to remind you that regardless of which side of the fence you fall during these mandates, that unless the government tells you to directly disobey God, we are obligated (by God) to be obedient to our governing authorities (Romans 13:1-2; Hebrews 13:17; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Our actions, as His Disciples, are to be done in love for God and others above ourselves. Therefore, if you feel healthy or are that you are of no risk to others, yet you carelessly ignore the mandates/requests, etc. from the government, putting others lives at risk, you are being selfish, not selfless (1 Corinthians 10:24; Mark 12: 30-31; John 15:13; Philippians 2:3; 2 Peter 1:5-7). Stay home as much as possible. Avoid contact with others outside of your home as much as possible. Social distancing, while annoying, is necessary to combat this disease. [Have you noticed every day the statistics change, and they find out new information regarding the disease? They don’t know it completely, and until they do, we can’t be completely safe from it.] 

The greatest thing we can do right now is pray for God’s Mercy.

The greatest thing we can do right now is pray for God’s Mercy. Seek for our people, our nation, our world, peace and welfare (2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 26:20; Jeremiah 29:7) that can only be found in Jesus Christ (John 16:33; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15). Personally, I am relying on Psalm 91:9-10. 

I again want to stress that throughout this pandemic, whether we are self-distancing and quarantined to home, or are part of the essential employed still going to work, please try not to worry or panic over this situation. Nothing going on in this world right now is a surprise to God (Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 42:9; Matthew 6:34). Take heart in knowing God is in control (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 41:10; Luke 12:22-26; Philippians 4:6-7). Do not fear (Psalm 34:4; Psalm 46:1-3, 10; Psalm 94:19; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:6-7; 1 John 4:18). 

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1


*For a great study on anxiety and fear, Max Lucado’s Anxious for Nothing is fabulous!
*Another good study on fear and anxiety is Tony Evans’ Let It Go.
[There’s a reason the Bible says “Fear not” 365 times (meditate on one for each day).] [And don’t get too down on yourself for having to remind yourself that God is in control. Look at how many variations God reinforced Joshua with “Be strong and courageous”…]



*If there’s anything I can pray about for you, please leave me a comment or send me a message. We all could use some extra prayers during this time. God bless you. May He give you peace during this pandemic. And may you be strong and courageous.


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