Keep Calm, Don't Panic

Devotional Thought- April 6, 2020

“Keep Calm, Don’t Panic”

Written by Sis. Peaches McEady

Since everyone is panicking and fear is all around. I feel now this is an excellent opportunity to use fears to teach young children, and the youth about faith. Yes, we see how the COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruption in our lives. Everything such as churches, schools, sports leagues, conferences, and restaurants, you name it, is affected by this virus. So what do we do? Do we fret and panic? No, you start reading, learning, and believing God’s promises in the BIBLE. If you know no other promise in the Bible, here is one in John 14:1-3. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, also believe in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” This is a great promise to commit to memory.

We know that people are getting sick, and some are even dying from the COVID-19 every minute. This is a pandemic that you and I have never experienced before. This is our “New Normal,” and many young and older people are traumatized as a result. This is not to say there is no reason to be concerned, or that we should ignore the sound advice of medical professionals and public health experts who tell us to stay home, keep a safe distance, wash hands often, and cover your cough. But do not panic, and do not fear because panic and fear are NOT from God. Calm and hope are. Remember that Jesus is in charge of everything in this world. Jesus said, “Behold the fowls of the air. They sow not neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. He continues to say, “Behold the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matt 6:26-29). Isn’t that beautiful? Jesus is BIGGER than this CORONAVIRUS! If Jesus can take care of the birds and the flowers, then He certainly can take care of us.

Finally, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took Him with them in the boat. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:35-41. So if Jesus can calm the sea, He will certainly tell the Coronavirus, “Peace! Be Still!”

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we are dependent only on You. This virus has reminded us how powerless we are without you. We depend on you for all of our needs. Jesus, we repent of all of our sins. Lord, you are BIGGER than any COVID-19 that comes to steal and destroy human bodies and spread its vile sickness through our communities, nations, and the world. As we endure this new normal in our lives, we pray earnestly for the heroic medical doctors, nurses, and health care professionals who are putting their lives on the line for us. We pray for all of our children. Please keep us all safe. In Jesus’ name, we pray, AMEN!