Fear Not

When the Coronavirus pandemic began, I knew my husband, who is an infectious disease physician, could possibly be involved in caring for some of the infected. One night last week, a colleague texted him saying he had received word from a friend in New York saying infectious disease doctors are dying there. 

The next morning the word "Do not fear what they fear" came to me so frequently that I realized it was a word from God. I found it in Isaiah 8:12, 13: "...do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread."

God spoke these words to Isaiah when Judah was threatened by an enemy invasion and the people were terrified. Scripture says, "the hearts of Ahaz [the king] and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind" (Isaiah 7:2). Because of their fear, the king was ready to form an alliance with other nations rather than depend on God for protection.

Isaiah warned King Ahaz to reject fear and to look to God. To refuse to do so was to become more and more fearful. They would ultimately be leaving their lives in the hands of an unknown power. Their failure to trust God, would make Him appear helpless, indifferent, even insignificant rather than the Lord Almighty.

Trusting God for protection during the Coronavirus crisis, of course does not exclude doing what is reasonable to avoid the virus. "A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions" (Proverbs 22:3 NLT). But I've discovered we can do so without fear. 

Thank You, dear Heavenly Father, that we can live without fear knowing that what comes to us and to those we love comes from One who is both all-powerful and good. With that certainty, we can accept what You allow with calmness and confidence. 

"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV).

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