Put Fear Aside

One of the most talked about issues in the entire world right now is the coronavirus which is to be expected as those in the news media love to discuss the newest disease or virus to sweep the world. In doing so, so many people are fearful of what is to come. Something that I have learned on my journey is that your mind can create some of the most dangerous situations to never occur.

No, I am not suggesting the coronavirus is not a real virus because it is and it has claimed lives. There is a real medical reason to study the virus and to take some precautions but with that said, there is no reason whatsoever to rearrange your entire life because someone somewhere got this virus which is similar to the flu. While we may come in contact with someone with the flu and/or exposed to the flu bug, nobody is in a state of shock over the flue (anymore) but it claimed 37,000 lives last year.

Rudyard Kipling, a British journalist and novelist, is famously known for these words: “Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.” This is something that I can relate with completely because once the mind begins to create situations that may occur, fear is usually the emotion that we are left with and the coronavirus is playing on the emotions of so many: “Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” We are seeing this play out right in front of our eyes.

Proverbs 29:25 tells us “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” When we fear what may happen or buy into what those in power tell you to be afraid of, we fall into a trap and this trap is set for us to not rely on God or to live in faith but to cringe to those in power and take heed each and every precaution they put forward. Again, while there are precautions to take, this virus is no different than any of the other five or ten viruses and illnesses that “plagued” our world over the last two decades.

Scripture tells us to rest in the Lord and trust in Him completely. When we are putting so much of our time and effort into a virus that is not much different than other viruses we have come in contact with then are we truly placing our trust in Him? Think about Psalm 91:1: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” and when we do this, we can testify to God’s mercy whenever we are in times of trouble: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

This includes in all situations and this virus is no exception and scripture is clear on this: “Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday” (Psalm 91:6). Rather than making this virus the center of our lives and allowing fear to take control of us, we should simply take simple precautions and live as though there is nothing to worry about after all, as Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Instead of fearing fear, do the next best thing and give it to God and allow Him to protect you through all things.