Coronavirus: Fear or Faith?
One of the new believers I’ve been discipling was confused. “I heard that Christians in South Korea are not afraid of the coronavirus. But they are not being wise, safe, or taking precautions. They are endangering others. My relatives who heard this are questioning whether or not Christianity is good. Are those people real Christians?” she asked. What is the appropriate response to a threat like the Coronavirus?
The impact of this virus is broad. It is affecting millions across the globe, not only missionaries. For those of us serving the Lord on foreign soil, it is definitely a cause for concern, in more ways than one. Meetings and gatherings have been postponed or canceled. Missionary kids’ schools are closing, or parents are asked to show their passports before entering the school grounds.
How do we navigate the path between fear and faith?
Fear is not from God. Wisdom is. The fear of the Lord, not the coronavirus, is the beginning of wisdom. We must actively resist fear and panic. At the same time, we compassionately serve and educate those around us about how to stay healthy. This is our civic (and missionary) responsibility.
Gloves, Masks and Hand Sanitizer
I needed to travel through a country that had reported many cases of the virus. Was it safe? My friends assured me of their prayers for safety. I bought masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer.
Travel is stressful anyhow. Luggage can get lost, flights delayed. This particular journey had already been tough. We’d had to reschedule our flights several times due to the airlines canceling flights we’d been on. The day before we left to travel, we were checking every hour or so. Would the flights go? Would we be quarantined when we reached our destination?
Anxiety threatened my heart. “God is with us. He has given us the ‘green light’ to go. He will be with us.” I told myself.
This didn’t mean there was no risk. I knew from past experience, that being a missionary, or Jesus follower, doesn’t mean you never get sick! I’d suffered from hepatitis, malaria and many other maladies on the mission field.
I determined fear would not control my life. God would. As long as I listened to His still small voice, I was in the safest place possible.
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.”
Ps. 118:8 NIV.
5 Things to Remember as We Face the Coronavirus Outbreak
1. Fear can be worse than sickness.
Resist it. It doesn’t come from God. Set a guard over your heart. Fight the urge to panic and reach out to God for the peace that passes all understanding. He promises to give that to us (Phil. 4:7).
2. Preparedness and panic are different.
There is a difference between being prepared and letting your imagination run wild. Take precautions. Go ahead. Purchase a few needed supplies. That is different than buying up the store’s whole supply of toilet paper, or cold medicine, as some are doing! When your adrenaline starts to race, pause and take a deep breath. Center yourself on God’s promises.
Avoid talking about the virus more than you talk about the goodness of God! If you find this dominating your conversations, you’ve moved from preparing to anxiety. Realign yourself and get back into the grateful zone.
3. Educate yourself, but limit media intake.
Limit conversation with others who focus on the coronavirus, and don’t obsess by watching the news continually. Limit Facebook and other social media intake so it doesn’t begin to influence you too much. Do some simple research, then stop. Be careful that you are not a part of spreading rumors or panic by sharing sensational news items.
4. Stay focused on what God has called you to do.
The coronavirus can be a huge distraction away from what God wants to do through your life. Don’t let it be. Continue to do what God has called you to do and do it with all your heart. There may be some adjustments needed for awhile related to travel and meetings. Don’t spend your whole day scrolling your phone, reading all the latest articles, or watching the news constantly. That would be a major distraction from God’s plans for you!
5. Look for ways to use the outbreak for the advance of the gospel.
This is a time for our light to shine brightly as Jesus followers. When the whole world is in a panic, we can be at peace. It is a great time for the world to see how radically different we are. Not crazy, not unwise, but peaceable and at rest in the midst of the crisis around us. We can serve, comfort, and help others.
It is also a great way to start spiritual conversations with people. As you share the peace within you, people will be drawn to Jesus. Pray for those who are fearful and minister the comfort of Christ. Do you know someone who is really worried about the virus? How could you minister to them at this time? Ask God to use you as an ambassador of His peace.
God promises to take what the enemy would use for evil and turn it for good. Let’s determine to be part of making that a reality!