Six Bible Verses to Help During the Pandemic
During these unusual and unprecedented days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to regularly remind ourselves of God’s providence, power, and love. When fear, worry, panic and depression take over our thoughts, we are more likely to given in to satan's desires. We forget that we have God on our side, no matter what crisis is facing the world. Lockdowns, supply shortages and uncertainty may leave us feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, but what does the Bible have to say in response to these things?
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." - Psalm 46:1-2
Fear is the one of the strongest feelings most Christian’s have right now. Why is this happening? Where is God in all of this? Who allowed this to get so bad? Not having the answers can leave us feeling confused and anxious. This Bible verse, though, reminds us that we are not alone. We can seek refuge in God’s arms, and He will give us the strength to keep pushing forward. We do not have to fear the state of the world because we have Him on our side.
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5
The coronavirus is invisible to the naked eye. Yet, we fear it’s great power and ability to wreck our lives. Jesus, though, is also not visible to us. As believers in Christ, we know that Jesus lives in us. So, why are we treating this virus as if it’s bigger than God? Fear seems to be the culprit here. We doubt God's ability to help us get through this pandemic, and believe what we see on the news instead. We think it will never end. Try to keep your faith strong during this time and remind yourself that Jesus is also working behind the scenes to help get us through this difficult time, and He has not left us.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27
Many of us are glued to the TV or our phones for hours a day so that we can consume all the information we can about the coronavirus. What are the politicians saying? What is the new death count? Is there a vaccine on the way? What will happen tomorrow? It's a common theme during quarantine to focus on what the world is saying, and not on what God wants us to hear. God is able to give us peace through this time if we turn our troubled hearts to Him. He will be able to take away the fear and replace it with His love. It's a beautiful gift that is ours for the taking, but only if we get off our phones long enough to ask Him.
"The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." - Psalm 29:11
As a Christian you might feel very distant from God, because you are not able to actively go to church or participate in you Bible groups like you once could. It can be hard to stay faithful when you feel isolated from His other children. God, though, is watching over all His people and giving them strength. He is blessing us all with peace. You are not alone in this. Reach out to your church friends and family, watch a livestream of a sermon on the internet, or do your own Bible devotional. This will help you feel connected to others and God, and He will provide you with strength.
"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:34
When stuck in quarantine, many of us worry about what the future will hold. We question when our children will be back to school or when the country will reopen. This is normal anxiety to have because it is such an unprecedented time. God, though, challenges us to stay present in the moment when we can. While you are worrying about the future, your child may be struggling today with a project and need your attention. Don't get so wrapped up in what may happen that you forget to be aware of what is going on right now. Tomorrow's trouble cannot be fixed today, so ask God for guidance in living for today.
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." - Romans 13:1
Many people, Christian or not, are judging how the world's governing bodies are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. They scream and show on social media saying that the government is doing too much, or too little, to help us get through this. However God wants us to submit and listen to our government. There are many guidelines officials have put out that are helping to save lives, like keeping a distance from one another and stopping large mass gatherings. While these seem inconvenient, we have to protect those who are most at risk for the disease. Be an example to those around you and show God that you are respecting His authority.
The COVID-19 crisis has completely shaken our world into something we almost don’t recognize. It is a scary time to live in, but know that God has not abandoned you. He is still providing you with love, grace, strength, and guidance during this difficult time. Trust in His plan for our world and take things day by day. By meditating on these Bible verses, you’ll be sure to find more peace.
