Growing up I remember watching scary movies, like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf-man and the scariest one of all; Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (just kidding) It never failed that I would have horrible nightmares after watching those scary movies. To this day, you will never find me watching any of those Zombie movies, movies like The Exorcist, or anything else like them. I am amazed at those who say they  love watching scary movies and many of those same people struggle with fear. Fear is a real thing, and it can be very crippling, especially when the fear comes from a real thing or situation.

Our whole world is currently facing a real fear with the attack of the Coronavirus and all it has brought and continues to bring to our world and our economy. Thousands of jobs have been put on hold or even lost because of the Coronavirus. Precious lives have been lost because of the Coronavirus and many lives sit in the balance. People have been asked to do something that was not meant by God to be something normal: social distancing. The fear of not knowing when this will end and people get back to work, will they be able to find some type of cure for this deadly virus and how many more lives will be lost because of this virus is very real.

Like many of you, I too can easily be drawn into being fearful as I hear of all the bad things which are taking place in our world right now for I struggle with fear but what are we as believers to do?

We read the promise of God’s great mercy for the church after a prediction of God’s judgement was coming on the world found in Isaiah 35:3-4 NKJV “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees that give way; say to those who are fearful-hearted, (identifying yet) Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance; with the recompense (compensation) of God, He will come and save you”

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind“ Too often I sadly find myself living my Christian life in a spirit of fear; instead of in power, love and a sound mind, and the results of doing that are not good.

Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolf man, the Mummy or any of those Hollywood creatures are made up and fictional, yet how they are portrayed on the movie screen can really frighten a young boy.

The Coronavirus is real and not something to take lightly, but even with that, as believers, if we allow the enemy to instill/establish fear into our hearts, he has won a battle he was never intended to win.

Right now as believers, we must pray like we have never prayed before and we must look for ways to share God’s hope to a frightened world right now for we serve a God of hope.

One thing about fear, it’s a really difficult emotion to hide or cover up. If as believers we try to tell others we are not concerned/fearful right now, we would be seen as liars, for even the disciples were fearful, and our words about the Lord would fall on deaf ears. But if we tell those who are fearful, we understand their fears and concerns but as believers in Jesus Christ, we take our fears and concerns to the One who is able to take us through any and all fears and concerns.

We will get through this difficult time my friend, but when it will end is up to the Lord. We must come out of this stronger in our faith and more determined to live our lives for the Lord. I close with the words of Isaiah “Be strong and do not fear! God will come and save you!”

image Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash