When we first heard of a worldwide pandemic, I saw this world beginning to come together. We were unified. We saw signs along the freeways saying “We’re all in the together.” There was a spirit of cooperation for the sake of our health and everyone else’s around us.
But unity, without the presence of God, is short-lived. Before long there were accusations, feelings of anger and mistrust, shaming and basically a nation and world that came unhinged.
The coronavirus pandemic is another indicator of a world so in need of Jesus that we literally cannot function without Him. Here are 7 ways COVID-19 shows the world needs God and a Savior.
1. We Are Not as Strong as We Thought
The late singer and songwriter Rich Mullins got it right in the title and chorus of his song released nearly 25 years ago, “We are Not as Strong as We Think We Are.”
Americans have lived for decades with convenience, luxury, perceived strength, and an overall sense of world peace. Then a microscopic virus, a biological warfare of sorts, wreaked havoc on our health, our economy, and our peace of mind. Never have we been stripped so completely of our confidence, conveniences, capabilities, and our peace of mind than now. And this anxiety is not only found in the world, the church appears to be struggling, too.
May we, as Christ-followers, be the first to humbly admit, as the Apostle Paul did, “[His] grace is sufficient for [me], for [His] power is made perfect in (my) weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-11).
2. Only God Can Give Us the Peace We Need
We are an anxious, fearful, and worrisome species. It’s natural for us to worry when we can’t see a clear or prosperous future. Yet, Scripture tells us “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
If you’re trying to figure all this out, or create your own sense of peace and serenity, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
Only God can give you and me the peace that comes from knowing this did not take Him by surprise. He is sovereign. And when all seems out of control, we can not only look to, but rest in, the Only One who really is in control.
3. Only God Knows Our Future
We have learned to rely on predictions--trusting in the weather forecast, the economic forecast, the stock market trends (which always bounce back, right?), rising and dropping interest rates, political polls, even predictions of coming natural disasters like hurricanes. But our predictions are guesses at most.
We still don’t know how to predict the future. We can still get blindsided by poll results that didn’t pan out. A year ago, even six months ago, no one could’ve predicted we’d experience a global pandemic, a ban on international travel, a national and global lockdown and a sudden plummet of the best economy this nation had ever seen.
No one could have predicted the government would prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people at a time, preventing graduation ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and every type of religious service in the country.
And yet, God knows the plans He has for us. And those plans are “for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). I need that hope right now. And I can’t imagine a tomorrow without the presence and promises of God. There is much peace and certainty in being able to say “God, no matter what happens, You hold my future securely in Your hands.”
The world, at large, needs that kind of hope right now, too.
4. Only God Provides Assurance and Security
Many people felt isolated during this time. Some still do. If you felt you were all alone, that can be debilitating, fearful, and depressing. But God says in His Word, “I will never fail you; I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). Scripture assures us there is no place we can go where God’s presence will not follow (Psalm 139:7-12). The Lord goes before us, walks alongside us, and has our backs.
Isaiah 33:6 says “And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge” (NASB). During these uncertain, unstable times, He is our sure foundation. While we long for a national or world leader to give us the assurance that “this will all go away and we can return to life as normal” only God knows the future, and can guide us safely through it.
That is security during uncertain times.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Naassom Azevedo
5. We Can’t Fully Protect Ourselves
The virus is real. Whether or not you have been personally affected is not the point. Even healthy people who wash their hands regularly, wear a mask and are trying to distance themselves are still being affected.
That means, as we do what we can to stay healthy, God is ultimately in control of our health and wellbeing. He is the Only One who can fully insulate us from an invisible contagion all around us.
David said “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8, emphasis added). While we may be looking to a political administration, the Center for Disease Control, or the finest medical experts in the world to come up with a vaccine, God is the Only One who can give us the assurance that we are truly safe.
6. Only God Can Lead in a Mess Like This
In the past few months, I’ve witnessed countless Californians head to Arizona to flee the golden state’s shelter-in-place mandates. I know of U.S. residents desiring to leave the country altogether until we have a new president to “bring the chaos under control.”
Truthfully, only God has the answers, only He can govern our hearts and our world in truth and justice. Only God can get us out of this mess or guide us through it.
We’ve grown accustomed to doing our own thing and when the government says “shelter in place,” “keep a 6-foot distance” and “wear a face covering” it flies in the face of what we feel are “our rights.” We either mistrust leadership altogether, believing this is a plot to strip us of our personal rights, or we follow blindly thinking because someone is in a position of authority, they know best for us.
Jesus’ heart broke as He saw humans “confused and helpless like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Just like the people of Jesus’ day, we are confused and helpless during this time, willing to follow whoever offers a chance of hope or change.
Never have we needed to listen for God’s voice as much as we do now. God, what are you saying to the church during this time? God, what are You wanting us to do differently so that we can shine Your light in this darkness? God, when do we listen to You and not the government? And when do we submit to our leaders and be an example of good citizenship?
We need discernment. We need clarity in a time that can be confusing and fearful. We need the truth. We need Jesus, who said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
7. Living for the Temporary Doesn’t Cut it Anymore
As Americans, in particular, we have put too much stock in our leaders, and our comforts and our “security” on this earth. Even as believers, we had grown comfortable until life on earth wasn’t comfortable anymore. I found myself at the breaking point recently when I realized I had enjoyed a great economy, a thriving business, and many luxuries, comforts, and conveniences of living in the most prosperous nation on earth.
Then I saw it all go to pot. Crashed economy. Civil unrest. Racial tensions. Political divisiveness. Hate, anger and unrest abounded. I found myself saying “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” And then I realized why I had been so affected by all this: I had lost my longing for heaven.
Colossians 3:1-2 advises, “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Matthew 6:33 tells us “seek first His kingdom (not a prosperous life on this earth) and His righteousness (not your own conveniences), and all these things will be added to you” (NASB).
And Jesus told us “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NASB).
This world and its comforts and conveniences will pass away. And therefore, we need God and an eternal mindset of the glorious riches that await us as heirs of Christ (Ephesians 1).
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/triocean
Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker, Bible teacher, and award-winning writer who helps women and couples strengthen their relationship with God and others. She is also a mother, pastor’s wife, and author of 17 books, including When Women Walk Alone (more than 150,000 copies sold), When God Sees Your Tears, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, and When Couples Walk Together:31 Days to a Closer Connection, which she co-authored with her husband of 35 years. For more on her speaking ministry, coaching services for writers, and books to strengthen your soul, marriage, and parenting, see her website: www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.