When Fear Gets Us

As COVID-19 has reached us here in the west, life has changed rapidly in just a matter of days. Our routines have been upended by the sudden mandate to work from home, take children out of school, distance ourselves socially, and even worship from afar. All these sudden changes have prompted people into self-preservation mode. Store shelves have emptied as people stockpile for the worst, with toilet paper apparently being a must-have in a crisis. I finally braved venturing to Trader Joe’s today, and I had to remind myself to buy appropriately, and not out of fear.

News media is also unhelpful for helping us remain calm. I want to stay current, but too much of the news puts me in greater panic. And what about all the conflicting information on different outlets? It’s hard to know what to believe, and which experts hold the truth. And reading about symptoms makes me second guess a cough or scratchy throat.

I’m also all of a sudden more sensitive to all the germs around me. I tell myself to wash my hands, and not touch my face. I keep my Lysol wipes near, and try not to become too compulsive about using them. When my water randomly shut off the other night, I felt completely unclean not being able to wash my hands, brush my teeth, or shower. It wasn’t my finest moment, and thankfully the water came back on in an hour. “Planned shutoff” I was told by the water department. Again, not helpful right now.

When we sense our vulnerability, it exposes our weakness. Do I really trust in a God who has promised to be faithful? My resolve has definite cracks, and I find myself wavering. Lord, have mercy on my anxious soul. Help me to remember that perfect love casts out fear, and there is nothing in which you are not completely sovereign. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. May your Spirit draw many more to our Savior Jesus Christ in these uncertain times, and may your name be glorified as we the church seek to be light and hope to the world.