How many times in your life have you encountered unforeseen events that derailed you and your family? What would you say were your immediate reactions? On a scale of zero to ten with zero being no stress to ten being totally stressed where would you rate yourself? Has the Covid-19 Pandemic affected you and others who are special in your life?
In retrospect now that the entire world has been affected by the Pandemic, what I have learned is even though the things that I had hoped for were shaken there is always a plan B or C. There have been multiple events in my life through the years that brought about an abrupt knowing that what I was facing would take refocusing and looking for another path. Proverbs 13: 12 encouraged me many times when facing life events that felt like I had experienced an earthquake. It says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled it is a tree of life.”
The pandemic has affected the entire world and has forced humankind to search for meaning and find a hopefulness for life. It becomes extremely difficult to find meaning and purpose in the middle of all the many reports telling about the effects of the virus. The normal reaction is to experience fear and anxiety. Questions such as mentioned in the first paragraph come to the forefront of our life decisions.
In my own personal life, I found that facing this newly found virus was not a death sentence. According to the CDC’s recent report, worldwide 3.4% have died. Many of those had pre-existing conditions. Personally, I have a grandson who had it and is well and back to work. My daughter who is married and works from her home had it and is back to work. Also, I have two cousins that live in Kansas that had the virus and have recovered. When I first learned of my grandson testing positive and that he was having lung problems, I became very stressed. What I found in all of these situations that prayer was the main thing that I relied on upon hearing they had Covid-19. My fears diminished and hope increased when I prayed. Now that my family members have recovered when I hear of others having tested positive my first response is to pray. The fear that I experienced earlier with my family has decreased immensely.
What I have learned so far is that many times as the news spreads across the world and reports are published, a lot of rumors develop that heightens fear and panic in people. It is important to do your research to determine whether what you hear is true or not. If one cannot face the fear we are experiencing with faith in God it can be paralyzing. So, in the middle of crisis it is important to calm our fears through prayer and meditation on God’s word. It is then one can regroup and make plans to move through the situation with confidence and purpose. There are many evil forces that humankind face in this world. They are like an unseen enemy that comes into our life. The answer to life issues comes through knowing that Jesus Christ came to give us life and a hope for the future. God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins.
Finally, remember 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.”
Rekindling the Flame 