Peace in the Middle of Disaster and Death

During these past days the COVID-19 virus has been at the center of
my thoughts and life. I am always
watching the latest news, and always thinking about how my family and the
church should face this. 

As for the church, the safety of the congregation, a faithful
witness, the possibility that members could contract the illness, have all
become a great area of struggle.  It is
readily apparent that we are facing a test of our faith. 

The situation is so critical, yet we are trusting in the Lord’s
promises, that His thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (See Jeremiah.
29:11), and that He allows for a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to strengthen
us.  Therefore, Christians are not only
to suffer with the people of our communities, but we have a responsibility to
pray for those who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ. 

Often, living a peace-filled life comes down
to a choice.  Choosing to come to Him, choosing to set our minds on His
Word, choosing to trust Him no matter what, choosing to pray in all that we
face, choosing not to be anxious, choosing to believe that He is always
with us and in control, choosing to set our thoughts on those things that
are true and right. 

God reminds us in His word that peace
will not naturally just come our way, He tells us to “Turn from evil
and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Ps. 34:14)  But the peace God offers is vastly different.  It’s lasting, confident, and real.  Breathing deep reassurance in the middle of
all that we face in the past, present, or future.  Rising up against fear that would seek to
choke our lives.  Bringing comfort and
freedom.  God’s words give strength,
purpose, and grace.  They alone are what
bring inner calm to a whirlwind of crazy.

Why do only Christians have this peace?  Because of sin, humans deserve the trials and
tribulations that come upon them.  God
says, the wicked have no peace. (See Isaiah 48:22)  We were all sinners, but Christ, because of
faith, took our penalty and gave us His peace.  

Paul reminds us, “Who will bring any charge against those whom
God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” (Romans 8:33)
 Christians, along with the world,
face the same tribulations, but such tribulations are no longer
punishment, but a new opportunity to grow nearer to the Almighty, to purify our
souls, and an opportunity to proclaim the gospel.

In other words, when disaster strikes us, it is but a form of God’s
love.  As Paul firmly believed, “Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to
be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us. or I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Roman. 8:35-39)

God cares so much about you that He sent Jesus
Christ to save you from eternal separation from Him, providing a way for you to
be with Him forever.  It’s wise to
protect yourself against this outbreak. At
the same time, don’t let anxiety consume your life.  Jesus asks us, “Who of you by worrying can
add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27)

Trouble
and suffering will always exist, but you can have peace in your heart knowing
your future is safely in God’s hands.