As I sit and write this latest article, life as we know it is changing.
We are literally living out a historical moment.
COVID-19
Coronavirus or COVID-19 is everywhere. It is on the news, on signs, in conversation, EVERYWHERE.
The country is moving into lockdown, as many parts of the world have already experienced in the past few months.
My local shopping centre is quite bare of the necessities and there are restrictions in place. There is an underlying current of worry even though you can tell people are trying to remain calm.
In many ways, we do need to be wise and vigilant and to be on guard. However, there is a line between wisdom and worry.
Fear and Anxiety
While the virus is spreading; so too is fear and anxiety. I would love to say as a believer I have been full of faith, positivity and peace. But alas, no, I have succumbed to feeling fearful and anxious about the future and what all of this means for the years ahead.
I have jumped too far down the road and have thought about many things and possible scenarios, as I’m sure many people have. I have felt fear and anxiety grip my heart resulting in physical chest pain. I have been disappointed in myself that I haven’t been a “full of faith prayer warrior”.
And yet.. what if all of this is teaching me grace? Grace to give myself so I am then able to extend grace unto others who may also be feeling uneasy and worried?
God is a good, heavenly father. He has taken care of his people in the past and he will continue to do so. Times like these forces us to exercise our faith muscles. It makes us humble ourselves before him and to shake us out of our complacency and to learn to trust Him. To really trust him and walk out our faith. To not just quote scripture to sound spiritual, but to really believe the words in the book of life as truth, and to hold on and believe in the promises.
I felt God speak to my heart and ask, “What are you feeding on? Are you feeding on my life-giving words that offer supernatural peace or are you feeding on worldly news and advice?”
God’s promises for his family
The word says we will face many trials but to take heart because Jesus has overcome the world (John chapter 16 verse 33).
These are some life-giving words that I am holding onto.
Fear not for I am with you, Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah chapter 41 verses 10-13).
Psalm chapter 91 verses 9-10
IF you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
And finally,
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land
(2 Chronicles chapter seven verse 14).
We don’t know what the immediate future holds, but we know the Almighty God who does. And we know how it all ends. We win.
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband, son and daughter. Jo is a teacher with an education in journalism and early childhood who loves to spend time with her family and enjoys reading and writing whenever she can.