Leadership Thought: Do You Want to Stop Worrying About the Coronavirus, Please Read This.

Dear Friends,

Are you worried about the Corona Virus? If not, you are probably in the minority, or at least it seems that way. The other day I made a shopping  foray to the local  grocery store to buy some milk, bread and dog food. I couldn't believe what I saw. The parking lot was filled with cars. Inside the store the check-out lines stretched  from the back of the store to the cash registers in the front. As I waited in line, I couldn't help noticing the empty shelves as I waited over 30 minutes to check out my few groceries. I confess my first response was anger. Why are people hoarding food and things like toilet paper? Why are people making two and three trips to insure they have enough bottled water to last them for a year? Isn't tap water sufficient for times of hydration? As a nation we are in a full-on panic mode.

 But then there is the senior saint I called yesterday. Ethel Halvorsen lives in Seabrook, an assisted living complex in Tinton Falls. At over 90 she has things in perspective, and we all can learn from her. As we chatted about how she was doing, our conversation turned to the corona virus. I wondered if she would respond like the countless people I have met or heard  who are so stressed out?  This was not Ethel, however. Calm, unfazed by all that is going on in the outside world, she sits in her chair and reads her bible. I asked her why she was not worried like much of the rest of the world, and she mentioned she has claimed Ps. 91:10, I remembered the 91 Psalm, one of my favorites, but for the life of me I couldn’t recall verse 10. We both hurried for our bibles-a telephone bible sword drill if you will- as we each sought to be the first to find and quote the verse. I won! I read “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” And then there is the wonderful follow up promise in v. 11: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Talk about a couple of “Virus Verses.” There you have them. For Ethel, faith will always conquer fear, and for us the antidote is the same. If those verses are not enough, turn to Matthew 6:33-34 for another dose of spiritual fortification.

Now I don't want to dismiss the need to be careful and vigilant as we deal with this pandemic which is stressing so many, but I can’t help but think that the world would be a lot less stressed if we had more people like Ethel Halvorsen walking around.

This morning I listened to a short one-and-a-half-minute  message by one of my favorite preachers, evangelist Greg Laurie, who put things in perspective for me  with a three point, three "P" sermon. He said, “ Be Practical”. Take precautions. Wash your hands with soap, keep your hands away from your face, stay away from large crowds...…...…...…….you know the rest by heart.

“Be Prayerful.” Instead of using up your time getting more stressed  as you sit in front of the television listening to the dire predictions of what could be, use the time to pray. Pray for those who have the virus, pray for those working with those who have contracted the virus, pray for those who are stressed out by the virus. Pray, pray, pray and pray some more. While doing so, be reminded of Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” And finally, number 3, "Proclaim." Use this time as an opportunity to share your faith and the hope you have in Jesus. We need not worry for we know that He is the One who has defeated sin and death. God is bigger than the corona virus or any other fear that might seek to enslave you.

And I would add a fourth P. "Don't panic." Panic is never productive. Worry is never helpful. The word for worry comes from an old English term that means to “choke or strangle” and that is what worry  will do. “Worry, as someone said, “does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.”

So,  in conclusion, why not turn off the television, grab the Book, the Bible of course, just as Ethel does, open the word, and then pray away any worry or stress that may be stealing peace from your heart.

Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom