Trust God (and Wash Your Hands)
No doubt about it – there’s enough in the headlines to make anyone feel anxious.
When we feel worried, here are two things to remember:
Hard things will come into our lives. Jesus promised it would happen (John 16:33). If you get sick, you can rest assured that you’re not being singled out, God is not “angry” with you and you’re probably not the only one feeling this way.
God has given us this amazing thing called prayer as a means of bringing our concerns & anxiety to Him, and ultimately experiencing His peace.
Here are 6 things to pray when you’re worried about coronavirus:
1. Jesus, thank you for caring about my situation.
Maybe you’ve wondered if Jesus cares about your situation. The Bible calls Him “the God who Sees” (Genesis 16:13). And this “God who Sees” instructs to:
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for You” (1 Peter 5:7).
In the middle of any storm, sickness, fear or concern, you are not alone!
2. Jesus, give me eyes to see the eternal.
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison...” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
Beyond this moment, while it may be difficult to see, there is a purpose in every trial. God is able to take every hard thing we face and turn it into a lesson (for us or others), as we keep our eyes on Him. The choices we make and the words we speak to ourselves and each other can have an eternal significance.
3. Jesus, teach me Your truth.
Hard times are never fun times, but they can be good times because we know that through them God is developing our character and helping us become more like Jesus. James 1:2-3 encourages us to:
“Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
4. Jesus, help me live by faith, not by fear.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Walking in faith does not mean we won’t experience fear. It does mean we take meaningful action on what we know to be true – even when we are fearful. We know that Jesus loves us and ultimately is in control when life feels crazy.
5. Jesus, please heal those who are sick.
“Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.” (Luke 4:40)
You don’t have to look too far in the Gospels to see Jesus healing people. While He does not always choose to heal, we believe that He is still our Healer today. Sometimes he works through a doctor, and sometimes through a miracle. We can bring people to Jesus for healing when we pray for them.
6. Jesus, please give our doctors & leaders wisdom to respond well and to find a cure.
God has given them wisdom already in helping us prevent the spread of serious diseases like coronavirus… So, we recommend you trust God through prayer and:
Wash your hands. They say to sing “Happy Birthday” twice – but try singing your favorite worship song instead. It’ll be a great reminder of the truth of who God is. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.
Stay home when you’re sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep an eye on current national & local news – and let’s pray together that this will soon pass, for those who are sick, and that God will give us His perspective on others and eternity.