A Believer’s Response To The Coronavirus

I walked into Walgreens to purchase hand sanitizer. There wasn’t one bottle left at the store where I regularly shop, but I figured a drug store would still have several. I was wrong. The salesclerk even chuckled when I asked if they had any in the back.

So, instead I grabbed chocolate. As I waited in the checkout line, I looked at the odds and ends that sat on the shelves leading up to the register. Noticing the few bottles of Dial hand soap, I felt a wave of panic. Maybe I should get more hand soap. So, I grabbed five. And then I noticed the “Emergen-C” vitamin powder. Only two boxes left. Better grab those. By the time I got to the register, I dumped the rather large pile I had accumulated which included vitamins, soap, Clorox wipes, Tylenol, and, of course, chocolate. The employee picked up the Hershey kisses and said, “Good thing you remembered the important stuff.”

The spread of the Coronavirus has been the topic of conversation at home, school, church, and even comes up while standing in line at the grocery store. What I’ve noticed more than anything is the wide range of responses to the virus. Some roll their eyes while others are batting down the hatches only leaving the house when absolutely necessary. While the “right” or “wrong” response to such a threat remains vague, there are certain principles from Scripture that should guide the believer’s response even to such things as a pandemic.

We Should Not Live in Fear

The Bible tells us to “fear not” more than three-hundred and sixty-five times! The Lord knows that because of our sinful nature, we will inherently be people who are prone to fear. So, He gently reminds His children (over and over) to not lean into that temptation.

Fear has been a part of the world since sin entered into it. Satan preys on our worries, trying to make us doubt God’s power and control; he lights a match on the smallest anxiety and loves to see it explode into a fire that becomes difficult to squelch. It’s no wonder that we need to be reminded by our Savior to not let these fears overcome us, but how do we keep this from happening?

David says in Psalm 56:3-4: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”  Notice David’s transitions from “When I am afraid” to “I shall not be afraid.” In between the two phrases, David makes a decision to put his trust in the Lord and in His Word. Our human nature is such that we tend to feed our fears by immersing ourselves in all the potential outcomes making the anxious beast grow bigger and stronger. But in this passage, David immerses Himself in God’s Word.

When you find yourself tiptoeing closer to the pit of fear, stop. Take time to open up the Bible, and allow His Words to penetrate your heart and soul. Plunge into the truths in Scripture when you feel afraid and meditate on the only words that can truly bring peace.

We Should Be Vigilant

Not living a life overcome with fear does NOT mean being ignorant of the realities around us. I recently heard someone say they decided to shut their ears to what’s going on with this virus and then concluded: “What will come, will come.” But Scripture does not encourage believers to remain naïve or turn a blind eye but tells them to be sober-minded and watchful (1 Peter 5:8). Keep your head up, listen to those who are speaking truth, and try to filter out the voices feeding us information for selfish gain or political persuasion. There is good, practical advice being shared from trustworthy resources (including not only scientists but also pastors and other leaders). Be watchful toward these reminders and do not remain ignorant.

And then prayerfully consider how you will respond and how you will guide those under your care. The response may look different from your neighbors or friends, but our role as believers is not to criticize or become malicious toward those who do not share our persuasion. Instead, we should keep our eyes open to ways we can be peacemakers in the midst of turmoil, keep our hands willing to be of physical help if the opportunity arises, and keep our hearts ready to be a comfort to those who may be suffering.

We Should Trust in The One Who Holds the Future

When faced with unsettling circumstances, it can be easy to believe that our hope is found in the saviors we tend to create. When we fear what will happen if a particular candidate takes office, we put all our hope in a human contender who we believe can save us. And when we fear what may happen when a new virus begins to spread, we put all of our hope in a vaccine to save us from the unthinkable.

But the Bible reminds us to put our hope in God alone (Psalm 43:5). You are not safe and secure because of a certain candidate or because of a vaccine that promises to keep you healthy (even the regular twenty-second hand washing won’t keep illness away forever). We live in a broken world tainted by sin, and when we come face to face with that brokenness, it should make us long for the day when Christ will return and make all things new.

What does trust in the Lord look like when facing an unknown illness? It looks like stepping away from the urge to be the predictor of all that “could happen” or “might happen.” If we trust that the Lord holds the future, we need to live in the truth that we do not. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. No one does but God alone. Trusting under these circumstances means taking one day, one moment at a time. The Lord will give us the strength that we need to face whatever he puts in our path; trusting Him is knowing and believing that if the worst scenario does happen, the Lord will provide what we need and will guide us through.

People and precautions will fail us, but there is no need to lose hope. Our ultimate security is in the One true God who is in control of everything and is surprised by nothing. He carries our days and has already paved our path. As desperate as we may be to find our peace in a person or a cure, none of it will bring ultimate comfort and lasting peace. None of it. The only sure response as a believer in Christ is to trust fully in a loving but powerful God who is working all things together for our good and for His glory.