I had no idea when I wrote my last post about the fearful American Christian that the world would practically fall apart in the coming weeks.  We are living in unprecedented times with the onslaught of the coronavirus and life has changed for everyone.  If we are afraid it means that we are human.  And the location of your home, the color of your skin, the age of your body makes no difference in this new world that we are living in.  Fear is in the back of the mind for everyone.  It’s what we do with fear that will make all the difference.  I grew up very fearful.  It seemed to run in my family.  Fear affects your life in every area.  It causes anxiety which directly affects your heart rate, blood pressure and immune system.  This will take a huge toll on your body if you live this way very long.  Fear robs you of so many things.  Your health, your peace, and your relationships just to name a few.

Almost every fear has a core fear underneath.  The fear of death.  Think about it.  Nothing is as unknown as death.  We don’t know how it happens, when it will happen and how it will feel.  Some die in pain and some die in their sleep.  I’m not trying to make this a morbid post but it’s reality.  The coronavirus has us thinking about these topics more than usual.  When we hear the death toll rise each day, we cannot escape the way it affects us.  I hope the following words will encourage you.

Our Heavenly Father is a good good father.  He was not surprised at the events of the past three months.  We live in a fallen world that has been affected in so many ways through sin.  We also have an enemy that loves to harass people with fear and intimidation.  But we have an anchor of the soul in our relationships with Jesus Christ.  In our soul, we have a mind and a will and emotions.  Our spirit is secure in Jesus and one with Him.  Our body is our earth suit.  Our emotions ALWAYS follow our thoughts.  Jesus gave us so many words that will bring us peace.  Where are you setting your mind these days?  Yes, we want to stay aware but limiting our time listening to the news and scared people is a wise thing to do.

One of our favorite verses is Galatians 2:20 which says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  You may think that you just don’t have enough faith.  Guess what?  You don’t.  That why we live by the faith of Jesus.  He gave us so much more than a ticket to heaven.  He gave us HIMSELF and He gave us HIS FAITH.  Ephesians 4:7 says, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  We have HIS faith and HIS grace.  We have been given Himself and everything that is His is ours.  Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that HE is the truth, the life and the way!  I John 5:12 tells us, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  Do you realize what you were given when you responded to His call to trust Him and believe in Him?  We don’t have to figure out what to do and how to navigate this life.  We “rest” in Him knowing that the God of the universe lives inside of us, gives us faith and grace and lives His life through us!  I John 4:9b, “He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”

But because we are human we must remind ourselves of these truths.  Because feelings follow thoughts!  God’s word is here to remind us.  Are we reading it?  Hebrews 6:19 & 20, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us…  Let’s encourage one another with His words. Let’s choose to respond from our spirit and not react from our emotions.  Let’s remember how much we are loved and cared for.  Psalsm 4:8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.”  And if I am one of the ones that get’s sick.  Jesus will handle the sickness through me.  He’s really in me and He’s really in you.