DON’T QUARANTINE GOD
For the past few weeks preachers across America have been ministering sermons that deal with the current crisis we all find ourselves a part of. COVID-19 (AKA Coronavirus) is sweeping through our country with no real end in sight. It is causing panic, fear, anxiety, stress and in some cases a sense of doom.
Millions of lives have been impacted by this virus in one way or another. Our First Responders find themselves in harms way as they face an invisible but very real foe; a foe that cannot be extinguished with water or ventilated by use of a chainsaw or an axe. This foe cannot be breached with forcible entry tools. Although our First Responders are highly trained as EMTs and Paramedics, this battle rages on. Among the top concerns in a fire situation is making a primary search of the building, confinement of the fire and minimizing the chance of the fire involving exposures (the spread of the fire to other buildings nearby). Again, our First Responders, nurses and doctors are now facing a different kind of threat and need our prayers. We should pray for those suffering from this virus and all who find themselves in a position where they are at a higher risk through exposure.
Since we don’t have a definitive answer to this virus in terms of an antidote, where do we turn? Answer: Connect (or reconnect) with God! God has been, is, and will always be the answer to our fears and concerns.
What is a crisis? A “crisis” means different things to different people. For some, having their only car break down, don’t have the money to fix it, and need to get to work is a crisis. Having to deal with an abrasive, contrary person, relational conflict - crisis. Getting laid off your job that you’ve had for years and risking losing everything you’ve got is a crisis. Whatever your definition of a crises is, I’m sure we can all agree that the Coronavirus is a global crisis! Crisis is defined as “a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.” Well, our current situation with the Coronavirus certainly qualifies.
Another definition of a crisis is “an emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person's life." The best thing we can do (aside from taking all the precautions we can to minimize exposure and find a cure for this virus) is to connect with God. That’s what David did in the Bible. He was running and hiding from King Saul. He was being relentlessly chased down by Saul’s army. David was a fugitive. Death seemed to be constantly looming over David’s head. He cried out to God: “When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). In other words: “What do I do now?” The answer comes from the Word of God: “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:11).
It is in our darkest hour that we need to focus on God. It’s in the crisis, in the chaos, in the confusion, when we feel crushed, when we feel out of control that we need to look to God. How do we connect with God in a Crisis? First of all, don’t quarantine God. “Cry out in the night. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord.” (Lamentation 2:19 NCV). Unload on God, He can handle it. The Bible instructs us to: “Cast your care upon Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). So when you face a crisis the correct response is not, “Grin and bear it.” The correct response is not push the emotions down and pretend it doesn’t exist. Instead, be honest with God and tell Him exactly how we feel. How do we reconnect with God in a crisis? We’re instructed to pray for strength and pray for help. “Look to the Lord for strength” (Psalm 105:4 NIV). “I can lie down and go to sleep and I can wake up again because the Lord gives me strength.” (Psalm 3:5 NCV). The Lord saves the godly! He is their salvation and their strength when trouble comes. (Psalm 37:39).
Don’t quarantine God during this crisis. Let’s all connect with God through unified prayer and a personal commitment to Him.
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