Back in the early 80’s when Lynne and I lived in Columbia with our girls, we came home on a Saturday night after Thanksgiving to discover that our house had been broken into and some personal possessions taken. The best way to describe how that made us feel is violated. If you have ever had that experience, most likely you felt the same way. In a similar way, circumstances of life like the Coronavirsus, when accompanied by fear and worry, have a way of breaking into our hearts and stealing one of our most cherished possessions – our peace. An appropriate response is to feel violated.
What security system can we put into place that will bring us peace as well as preserve it once it’s in place? Several Sundays ago during a Bible Study session, my teacher shared a video featuring Jonathan Pokluda, pastor of Harris Baptist Church in Waco, TX. In that video Pokluda focused on what our response as Christians should be to the Coronavirus. He made a statement I hope I never forget – something so simple it was profound. He said, “Remember, whatever you feed, grows.” Then he asked this penetrating question, “Regarding the Coronavirus, are you feeding your fears or your faith?”
Applied to our topic today, Pokluda’s statement means this. If we feed our fears, it steals our peace. If we feed our faith, it brings to us, and maintains in us, God’s perfect peace that the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:7 “surpasses all understanding.” Isaiah 26:3-4 is a reminder of what we need to do to feed our faith – “You [God] keep him [any man, woman, boy, or girl] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, [Why?] because he trusts in you [God]. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
Let me suggest some things on which our minds can dwell about God which will feed our faith and bring us peace:
- Feed your faith on the character of God – i.e., that He is love, and therefore is always loving and kind. That He is sovereign and holy and just, which explains why the world is broken because of sin. That He is good and wise, and therefore will cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. That He is gracious and merciful, and therefore gives us what we don’t deserve and withholds the punishments that we do deserve. That He is faithful, and therefore never drops the ball. Even when a Pandemic rages worldwide.
- Feed your faith on the promises of God. Let me suggest a few:
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- Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
- Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Isaiah 54:10 – “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
- Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
In regards to your life circumstances today, what are you feeding – your faith or your fears? Remember, whatever you feed grows.
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