4 Things to Remember About the Coronavirus

Preface: I am not one to post about world affairs, but this one has been heavy on my heart. I know your mind has been infiltrated with hearing about the coronavirus. We’ve been told plenty of times by the media what preventative measures we need to take. And I can’t help but share my own personal thoughts. I am not saying that what I think is what you should think. Please do not read between the lines. But amidst of all that has happened in the past few weeks, I couldn’t keep silent. 

When the news broke about the coronavirus, I kept thinking back to the other illnesses that spread like wildfire, affecting our nation. The swine flu, the zika virus, ebola, are they starting to ring a bell? My husband and I were actually IN Mexico when the swing flu hit it’s prime, which made life interesting for a bit, but thankfully we never contracted it. I’m not downplaying the fact that those didn’t have an effect on our world. People lost their lives. Though in the midst of yet another health “crisis”, as a Christian, I want my heart to remember:

God is STILL Sovereign

Before this was even a known virus and even now as more people are diagnosed in the States, GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN. It is easy to fall into the trap in thinking that our lives are at the hands of the health officials and at the hands of the virus. It’s not true. Our lives are determined by a virus. God still dictates what happens. And he’s still in control, contrary to what we might allow our minds to think and what the media portrays. As I see news report after news report, I can’t help but remember GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN.

So what does that mean? God knows this is happening. He is allowing it for a reason. Do I know why? Nope. I don’t, but nor is that for me to try and understand.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

His plans and purposes WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. We can do our best, but God’s will and His ways, will always be sovereign. Even in a virus.

Perspective

This is where my conviction has been heavy. I’m not saying it has to be YOUR conviction, but this has been mine. Because of the coronavirus, there have been some deaths in the States. I can’t imagine what their families are going through. The shock. The pain. And I say this as someone who is at risk with the virus because of my underlying health issues. Respiratory issues with a heart issue, are NOT a good combination. Hence why I am required to get the pneumonia vaccination in my 30s, which usually isn’t given until much later in life.

But I found myself convicted. A child dies from hunger every 10 seconds, or a disease related to hunger. Not only that, 862,000 abortions occurred in 2017 (according to NBC News). And 1 out of 4 deaths in America, is due to heart disease. Just think about those statistics. In NO way am I diminishing the fact that lives have been lost due to the coronavirus. But when I think about how much attention is being brought to a virus, do I take as much action when it comes to those who literally starve to death? Or am I too busy thinking about myself, living as comfortable as I can, all in the name of myself? I am convicted.

To know that every day, a child is dying from hunger. Someone’s stress level is so high that they now have heart disease. And it is leading them to their death. I am someone who walks with heart disease. Statistically speaking, it will take my life. But I believe God isn’t bound by statistics. With that said, it doesn’t mean I should ignore all of the preventative measures I can take in order to stay healthy. Same with the coronavirus. It’s not like I spend my day licking my hands. Not at all. I will do what I can. But while trying to stay healthy, I don’t want to lose sight of the other things that are taking lives daily. I don’t want to take for granted, the meal I eat 3 times a day. The snacks I have in between. It has only raised awareness, for the lives that our lost daily by hunger and abortions.

Worry

Coming from someone who used to be a perpetual worry-wart, there is an unhealthy way to live. And that’s with worry. Again, I’m not saying we should ignore what is happening around us. I’m not saying we shouldn’t take precautions. I’m not saying we should ignore the devastation and deaths this virus has brought to not only other countries, but ours as well. But what I am saying is we have to keep our worry in check.

Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

This has been one of my life verses. There have been plenty of times in my life when worry has overtaken me. But there have also been plenty of times when I have to just say, “God, your will be done.”

As a heart failure patient, and someone who walks with an internal defibrillator in my side/back, I can’t help but release my life to God – every. single. day. – because I am at a severe risk for going into cardiac arrest. I have spent numerous times in the hospital, with people who are battling diseases just like me, and are in far worse shape, but I’ve had to learn to give that up and just do what I can. I get my pneumonia vaccine, I get my shots, I get it all, but we can only do so much. We to let go of the worries of the future, do what we can each day to take care of ourselves, and also take care of others. God’s will might mean that I will deal with heart disease the rest of my life. But there is NOTHING I can do to change it, so I have let go of the worry about it.

Same with the coronavirus. We could worry ourselves literally sick over getting something like this, or we could let go of the fear and worry, and live in a way that takes care of ourselves and others.

What is Shaping Our Minds

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Believe it or not, we have the opportunity to allow what goes into our hearts and minds. The media shapes our thinking more than we are ever willing to admit. Am Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. I saying we should never watch the news? Absolutely not. But I’m ashamed to say that often times the voice of the world can feel stronger…wait…I make it feel stronger than the voice of God. I forget that I daily have to take what the world says and hold it up to the truth of the Word of God. And that’s where I find my truth. Allowing my mind to be shaped by GOD’S Word and not someone else’s word, will make all the difference.

Am I downplaying that God can work through others to proclaim truth? No. In fact, God has given us incredible minds to think, process, create, prevent, and even heal, all through HIS doing and HIS hands. And we shouldn’t ignore what he can do through others. But to what extent to I put my trust in others and not in God?

Do I think about the virus affecting me? I do. Am I worried about it? I am not. I wake up every morning with a disease that should’ve taken my life, and yet God continues to give me breath. And so worrying about one more thing taking my life, is going to do me no good. Could I get the coronavirus? Absolutely. Do I fear it? I do not. I am doing what I can by using the good ole hand sanitizer and washing my hands when I think of it. But I will not allow my life to be dictated by something I have no control over, really.

GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN. We need to allow this to give us perspective. To not worry about the things we can’t control. And to recognize what we are allowing to shape our minds. I am thankful I have a God-peace that only God can give. A peace that says “Not my will, but yours be done.” And in that, I can release all worry and angst in life, as I seek to live my life for him.