2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
When I was a young child, I lived in the Midwest, and my earliest memories were often about tornadoes that would come to our neighborhood. Our parents would wake us up during the night, and we would all file down to the basement to wait for the worst. Thankfully, we never had a direct hit to our home. What I remember most is the feeling of fear about the unknown. Growing up in the Cleveland, Ohio area meant tornadoes were fairly common. Though they can be dangerous, we learned to deal with them the best we could. The difference is that I was no longer afraid. As life has gone on, we have had to deal with many events that were new dangers. We faced a hurricane in Belize when we were missionaries; I was even chased by a hippo in Botswana while visiting some missionaries there. Even though danger is serious, I have learned that panic is unnecessary! Panic and hysteria do not come from God! Let me explain.
There is a great difference between being afraid, which happens to us all, and acting on those fears. What we do when we are afraid makes all the difference. It is vital that in an emergency situation, we do what is right. We should not act out of panic, but simply assess the situation and do the right thing!
Our history as a nation, is filled with many episodes of great difficulties and tragedies. It is normal for a people to go through some troubling times. It is also very wise to turn to God during these times! Some of the reason why we have trouble is to renew our dependence on the Lord. When the troubles are greater than we can handle, we are guided by the protection of God.
It is at these times that our relationship with Christ is valued. Some people interpret “turning to God” as “turning to religion.” But what the Bible emphasizes is not religion, but a personal relationship with God. Each person needs to come to know Christ personally through salvation. If we turn to religion, we are trusting that some other person (religious leader) knows God. How can that help you as an individual? Knowing Jesus as Savior initiates the promises of God on your behalf. We don’t need a mediator; we can go directly to Him! Without this relationship, the Bible will seem remote and God unknowable! Coming to know Christ begins with the Gospel message. We would love to share that message with you over the phone.
After you are sure of your relationship with Christ, you realize that you are never alone. There is no fear (panic), because Jesus is always near!
As a nation, we have gone through much greater difficulties than Covid-19! We have sustained much more than this, as a people. It is very likely that we are going to go through more serious episodes in the future. If this problem continues, we will do what we have always done. We will pray, read the Bible, and help each other get through. Here are my recommendations:
Read the Bible together, as a family. Start with the book of Psalms, or the Gospel of John. If you need a copy, give us a call, and we will be glad to bring a copy to you.
Pray together as a family.
Listen to a good sermon together if you cannot attend a Bible-believing church. Our sermons are on Sermonaudio.com, under the name of our church: Mountain Valley Baptist Church.
Help someone around you. It is far better to be a help to your neighbors than to hoard supplies from them. We will get through this together!
If we can be a help to you in any way, please don’t hesitate to call. Our number is 208-840-9876.