Dear Friends,
Someone said, "Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives us
something to do, but it doesn’t get us very far."
Worry is a thief of time. It robs us of opportunities to be doing
productive activities that would benefit ourselves and others.
As I look out on our congregation on Sunday mornings, I see a
number of empty chairs that once were filled by regular worshippers. I don’t
know all of the reasons that some in our fellowship have not yet returned to
those chairs, but I suspect that some of them are empty out of worry over the
Covid virus.
I know one person who would take up one of those empty chairs if
she could. Ethel Halvorsen is in her mid-90’s, and she lives in a senior
assistant living facility where they are careful to monitor outside travel.
A few months ago, I was blessed to talk with this wonderful woman
of faith, and what she shared with me was something everyone needs to hear. We
chatted about how she was doing, and then our conversation turned to the
coronavirus. I wondered if she would respond like the many others, I have met who
are so stressed out by this pandemic. This was not Ethel, however. Calm,
unfazed by all that is going on in the outside world, she sits comfortably
ensconced in her chair reading and studying her Bible.
I asked her why she was not worried like much of the rest of the
world, and she mentioned that she claimed Psalm 91:10. I remembered the 91st
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 verse 11: “For he shall give
his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Talk about a couple
of “Virus Verses.” For Ethel faith will always triumph over worry, and for us
the antidote is the same. If those verses are not enough, you might wish to
turn to Matthew 6:33-34 for another dose of spiritual fortification against
worry’s onslaught.
Now I don't want to dismiss the need to be careful and vigilant as
we deal with the pandemic which has worried so many, but I can't help thinking
that the world would be a lot less stressed if we had more people like Ethel
Halverson walking around.
Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie put things in perspective for me
with his 3-point outline on dealing with the Pandemic:
Be Practical and take precautions. Wash your hands with
soap, keep your hands away from your face, and stay away from huge crowds.
Be Prayerful. Instead of using up your time getting more stressed as you sit in front of the television listening to 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 request be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
And the final P, “Proclaim.,” Use this time as an
opportunity to share your faith and the hope you have in Jesus. As believers 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,” for
panic is never productive. As, someone has written. “Worry does not empty
tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.”
So, 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,
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