I am going to start by asking several tough questions that I hope you will ponder and meditate on in the coming days and weeks as we live through COVID-19 and beyond.
Worry, Fear, Anxiety, and Stress
What causes us anxiety or worry? At the core, is it not a mental battle? Usually it’s the unknown that causes us anxiety, right? The not knowing what’s next or the why?
Sometimes it can be the knowing as well, right? Once you know the unknown, does that always relieve anxiety? Or does it just make you feel like, “Here it comes, what am I going to do?”
Perhaps it’s the feeling of being helpless? Afraid of getting hurt? Feeling out of control? Wishing you could control the outcome?
Usually we worry about physical harm, as is the case with COVID-19. But what about the spiritual harm that our anxiety is causing? Isn’t worry a sin? Worry is a sign that you don’t have full trust in God? Could disbelief also be considered a sin? There is no doubt that anxiety causes spiritual harm. These are tough questions that many believers need to battle with.
Relief
So what helps relieve anxiety? Where does relief come from? Surely as Christians we would say, from God, right?
Does knowing that God is in control help? Does it show in our lives? Do we even believe that God is in control? Do we act as if God is in control? If yes, then why are we still anxious?
I submit that our belief that God is in control is not helping, not because he is not in control, but because we are not living as if he is in control. Our actions do not support our belief system.
Presumably, we are more secure and less anxious, when we are walking with a friend at night. Why? Because we believe and act based on the belief that the friend is willing and able to protect us if needed.
Why don’t we walk in such confidence in regards to God? Doesn’t God promise to be with us always? Doesn’t he say, “Don’t not be afraid. Be anxious for nothing.”?
Read Psalm 121:1-8 carefully. When the forces of danger and anxiousness are stronger than we are, where does our help come from?
We do not have the ability to protect ourselves from all danger. There will be storms too strong to protect ourselves against. So where does absolute security lie?
He Is Able
If our help comes from the maker of heaven and earth, then surely he is strong enough to protect us. Do we believe that he protects continuously, he does not sleep, he does not cat nap, he watches over our coming and goings, he is always attentive, never on vacation, never rests?
Do you believe that? Think about how that would affects you if you truly believed it. How would truly believing that change your life? What would it do to your level of anxiety?
Our foundation is most important in tough times like these. Is your house built on the Rock or on sand? What is that house the Bible talks about? Isn’t it what we believe in and the thoughts we entertain, maintain and run to? If we think, “Oh me, oh my, the sky is falling, then we are standing on the sand because our thoughts are not focused on God and his help.
But if our thoughts are on various scriptures such as Psalm 121, Phil 4:8, and many others, then we are standing on the Rock, for God’s promises cannot be moved. Troubles and anxiety can and will steal and destroy us unless we practice walking in God’s protection.
The storm is here, presently it is called COVID-19, are we listening to God’s voice or our own? Whose voice is more reliable?
Does this mean that we are safe from all physical harm? We know that Paul suffered harm, Steven experienced harm, The disciples faced harm, Didn’t Jesus himself suffer harm?
Yes, each suffered harm, yet each was protected from harm. Paul and Silas sang praises while in prison. Steven looked up and prayed for those stoning him. The disciples stood boldly before the leaders of Israel, and Jesus himself asked that God would forgive them for they didn’t know what they were doing. How is it that they weren’t affected by the evil that touched them? They had learned to walk in God’s protection.
Where Does Our Help Come From?
Tough questions for sure, some of which we can answer easier on some days than other days. Where does our help come from? We need to practice walking in the protection of God. We need to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty despite what we see or hear on the news. Though physical harm or evil may visit us, it will not harm us.
Does knowing that God can and does cause all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose relieve your anxiety?
For an amazing story of faith read about Joseph in Genesis 39. I suspect Joseph asked, “Does God have a purpose for what’s happening? Yet another of these tough questions to wrestle with, is God really in control of all this?”
At the end, Joseph says to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” God protected him in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Will we look back at this COVID-19 time and be able to say that as well?
This was adapted from the sermon series: Important Questions – Our Protector given by Richard Elwell.