by Nina Palumbo, Clinical Social Worker certified in Spiritual Christian Counseling
God is Our Hope
Four months ago, social distancing, wearing face masks, and Zoom meetings were not part of our everyday lives. An invisible virus has increased our anxiety and fear that we may become sick or lose a loved one. Worry creeps in as our time of isolation and physical separateness extends far longer than we wish for or desire. Our mostly predictable lives with established routines have been completely upended. We are dealing with a new set of rules, limitations, and change. We crave security and want to feel safe and to feel that we have a sense of control over our lives. How much uncertainty we can tolerate varies from person to person. Some people seem to enjoy taking risks and living unpredictable lives while others find the randomness of life deeply distressing. But all of us have a limit. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the emotional toll of the pandemic right now, you are not alone. Many of us are in the same boat.
In Mark 4:35-41, we read about the disciples becoming fearful of the storm while Jesus slept peacefully in the boat. They awake Him and with the spoken word Jesus calms the storm and His disciples’ fear. When we are afraid, worried, or panicked, and feel are choices are restricted or limited, there are three important choices we can make.
We Can Choose Faith Over Fear
Although it may feel like everything is changing at a rapid pace, know that God is not. He is the same faithful God as before the pandemic and will continue to be once it passes. Our faith can be steady because our God is faithfully unchanging. This truth alone can strengthen us to not give into fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Fear can rob us of these three gifts that we need during times of uncertainty. Power enables us to live a life of faith when it is not easy. Love enables us to share and sacrifice when it is not convenient. A sound mind allows us to experience peace even when things seem to be going wrong.
Choose Wisdom Over Worry
Be careful to not become paralyzed by worry. Use wisdom to listen to sound advice and to ensure that the source of information you are watching and reading are credible. If there is an action you can take to protect yourself or others, then please do so.
Choose Prayer Over Panic
Jesus called His church a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13) and now is our time. It’s time to pray for God’s intervention to stop the spread of the disease. It is time to ask for healing. It is time to ask for peace and comfort for those who are grieving. It is time for us to ask for direction and discernment for our leaders. Prayer is powerful and effective. If we spend our time panicking instead of praying, we forfeit our greatest strength.
This would be a great time to begin reading the Bible every day, conforming your thoughts to God’s will (Romans, 12:2). This would be a great time to pray every day for 5-20 minutes, “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7). This would be a great time to choose to forgive someone in your life, so that you might experience a better relationship with God (Mark 11:25). God is our hope for the end of this pandemic. God is our hope for our spiritual, emotional, financial, and physical needs during this time. Do not despair. During isolation from friends and family, we can still experience joy when we turn to God. “For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence,” Psalm 21:6.