What message have you been hearing lately? Is it a message of fear or peace?
You may feel the answer to this question is easy to answer: FEAR! The pandemic status of the Coronavirus has got people hurrying to their local stores and stocking up with toilet paper, bottled water and Clorox wipes. If you’re looking for hand sanitizer, sorry, you’re out of luck!
I, too, have been reading up on Coronavirus prevention and symptoms. But while I was Googling things, I checked out Instagram. A friend of mine posted this:
Christians, We have no better time than now to show Christ’s love to a world living in fear.
I immediately was struck by this perspective. I’d also like to add “peace” to the message. Believers have the promises of God to cling to when the world around them seems to spin out of control. Promises like these:
-“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33, NLT
-“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” – Isaiah 26:3, NLT
-“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV
-“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
-“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27, NLT
Christians have an unshakable hope found in the promises of God. We also have an indescribable peace that can transcend pandemics and health crises.
What an opportunity we have to speak truth into the lives of those who need it!
God does not want His people to be afraid. In fact, He said those words, “Do not be afraid,” 365 times in the Bible. One for every day of the year! God wants His people to experience His peace. His peace. As I studied that last verse in John 14:27, I read some commentaries. One in particular communicated this point so well. Jesus said He was leaving His peace with us. That means He gave us His actual possession, the peace He experiences as the Son of God. Isn’t that amazing?
Even now as I write this, my husband texted me and said that Trump declared a national emergency because of the virus. In spite of such news, we can be ready to share our source of hope and peace. We can be calm and wisely choose what is best for us and our families. We can be prepared to give an account of what we believe as we walk through the next days of uncertainty.
***Photo by Gabin Le Roy on Unsplash
