The Coronavirus Pandemic: Our Reaction Displays Our God
Before the coronavirus pandemic, many of us lived our lives according to a certain routine. Our daily routines kept our lives in order, which gave us security. What I mean by security, is we had a plan set in place that determined the tasks we needed to accomplish, daily.
However, routines can have a negative impact on our lives at times. The thing about regimens is we tend to become comfortable with the normality of the routines we created, which can cause us to resist any form of change. Why? Because we’re creatures of habit. However, sometimes God has to break the habits we created in order to change us and draw us closer to Him.
The recent COVID-19 has caused our once normal lives, to shift drastically within a matter of months. We’ve adjusted our schedules, practiced social distancing, worked from home, etc. Our once ordinary routines and habits shifted.
In times of uncertainty and sudden change, a particular emotion will attempt to surface in our lives, especially if we’re not careful. This emotion is known as fear. Fear expresses to God, that we are unable to trust Him. Instead, moments such as the coronavirus pandemic is when we must trust God. Yet, instead of trusting, we may find ourselves becoming fearful.
When predicaments happen, it’s essential that our response exemplifies the God we serve. But, how do we as Christians respond in times of difficulty? Instead of reacting with fear, we must react in faith. We must trust that He is in control.
3 Ways We Should Respond During the Coronavirus
As we continue to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s imperative that we as Christians reflect God through our responses during this time of sickness. Here are 3 ways we can respond to the pandemic as Christians:
1. We Can Pray and Study His Word
Prayer is our direct communication line between us and God. Prayer is where we can bring our concerns, frustrations, worries, and every emotion that we feel and lay it before Him. Furthermore, prayer gives us the opportunity to intercede on behalf of others and our world. Prayer changes things!
Next, we can study the Word of God. The Bible is our manual book. It’s the source of all the answers we need in this life. With more time on our hands, we have an opportunity to spend more time with Him through prayer and reading His Word.
More than ever, as Christians, we need to seek God.
2. Place Our Trust in Him and Relinquish Our Control
It’s easy to trust God when things are not difficult in our lives. However, it’s challenging to trust God in times of uncertainty and worry. Our sinful nature likes to be in control, however, we have to relinquish our control.
There are things we can control such as taking the necessary precautions like washing our hands, staying home, and if possible, working from home. But, we don’t have complete control of the virus, God does.
The Word of God says in Philippians 4:6 in the New International Version (NIV), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Even though things may appear out of control, God holds the entire world in His hands. We can trust that He knows the details of this virus.
3. Show Love Towards Others
While we continue to practice social distancing, it’s important that we show compassion and love towards others. In pandemics, it’s easy to focus on ourselves and those closest to us, rather than thinking about others. But, loving the way God commands us to, requires us to put others before ourselves.
The Bible says in Mark 12:30-31 in the (NIV), “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Here are some ways you can show love towards others:
-Check on others by calling them or Facetiming;
– See if anyone is in need of anything. If so, use a delivery service to send it to them;
– Send “thinking of you” text messages;
– Offer prayer or host video chat Bible studies with friends and/or family members.
Let’s Respond With God’s Love
While it’s currently unclear when things will begin to look normal again, it’s clear that we have the opportunity to trust God and show God’s love to a lost world. Today, spend some time in prayer and reading His Word. Trust Him and relinquish your control.
Lastly, show compassion and love towards others. You may never know how much your kindness can impact someone’s life.