“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
These two verses have been my saving grace as seemingly each day brings on something new with the Coronavirus. It’s so hard not to sucked into the news headlines and social media posts that instill fear and panic. It’s so hard to ignore the impact it’s having on our economy as stocks fall and restaurants and businesses close. It’s so hard not to feel the weight of it on your shoulders when schools close, you’re asked to work from home, and you can’t find basic household essentials like toilet paper, paper towels and disinfectant wipes on the shelves.
It’s all so heavy and to be honest, gives me a lot of anxiety, as much as I’m trying to stay calm and level-headed about it all. And when I start to feel anxious and the wheels start spinning in my head, I turn to those two verses to give me peace and comfort.
Because as dark as it may seem, God is there in the darkness to lift us up and give us strength. He is always by our side so we are never alone. And He is there in the things that we can’t control about all of this. So why worry, right? Easier said than done, I know.
In this time of uncertainty, I think about everything I have to be grateful for that God has given me to get through this – my home (a place of security), my husband (my partner in crime and voice of reason), my daughter (my source of joy and purpose), my dog (my companion and comfort), my job (that allows me to work from home), and family and friends that are thankfully still healthy.
I don’t know what the future holds – none of us do – but what I do know is this: God is in it. He has some best-laid plans for all of us that we can’t see right now, but will make sense someday.
Maybe He’s asking us to slow down, play a little more with our kids, unplug a little, pay more undivided attention to our spouses. Maybe He’s reminding us to give genuine love and support to each other, strangers or not. Maybe He’s showing us what we’re capable of when we’re able to show empathy, rally together and don’t leave room for hate and judgment.
What would the world look like then? So rather than look down at the storm brewing around us, I’m choosing to look up…look up to God who will give me the strength and courage to get through the angst, anxiety, fear and live in faith and hope.
Amen!
Well said Mary!