With all the scare and panic associated with the Coronavirus, I wanted to share my thoughts in hopes of encouraging you and your families with faith over fear.

Worry, Fear and Anxiety surrounding Coronavirus

I truly am struggling to understand the panic and pandemonium surrounding the Coronavirus. Store shelves are empty of items from toilet paper to Ramen noodles. While I agree that it is good to be cautious and prepared, my heart hurts to see the extent of worry, fear, and anxiety associated with this current health scare.

I know more people who have cancer than will have the Coronavirus. Sure, cancer isn’t contagious (although many act like it is), but there is no cure and it claims MANY lives every year.

But, as believers, my fundamental issue is the worry, fear, and anxiety being displayed in response to the Coronavirus. What happened to our faith in God? If this is going to prompt panic, what’s going to happen in the very last days?

Choose Faith over Fear: Trust God who is BIGGER than Coronavirus

God tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

God also tells us that He knows the number of our days—there won’t be any more or any less. “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5).

God is bigger than the Coronavirus. The question is do, you trust God in ALL things?

Rather than succumbing to panic, how about we pray and put our trust in the One who created us and knows the number of our days? Don’t know what to pray? Start with Psalm 91:1-16:

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

I wrote a post a while ago about how to get rid of worry, fear, and anxiety. Perhaps that’s applicable now: How to Get Rid of Worry, Fear and Anxiety. God tells us NOT to fear. He WILL protect us (Genesis 15:1).

I think it’s important to remember that while viruses are contagious, so is worry, fear, anxiety, panic, kindness, gentleness, grace, love, joy, and hope.

What will you choose to spread?

Resource to Break Anxiety’s Grip

No question, we have a lot to worry about. Children, jobs, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn’t to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety – as if we could. Instead, we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love, and a sound mind.

We can discover true peace in an age of anxiety.

In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others. She reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything.

She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God’s peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety’s grip.

Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com, Books-A-Million, and other fine book retailers.

Click here to learn more:  Breaking Anxiety’s Grip.