Last Tuesday one of my catholic patient suffering with COVID-19 raised a question. Why is this happening to the world ? Really I don’t have any satisfactory answer to that question. I just said “God has wonderful plans for you – if you let Him lead and comfort. Trust that God is with you.”
Many people, especially those who are sick, may feel a sense of isolation that compounds their fear. And many of us, even if we’re not infected, will know people who are sick and even die.
Is God really here among us right now in the midst of this epidemic situation? This is probably being asked by many in the midst of this great challenge we are facing due to the epidemic situation of COVID-19. We may wonder, Is God really with us? How could this have happened?
“Do not be afraid!,” as Jesus said many times. The Lord knows our feelings, and He knows we can be afraid. He knows we can hide behind fear when what He has planned for us seems too big.
Don’t find refuge in fear…but in the Lord! This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’” (Joshua 1:9 “നിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ നീപോകുന്നേടത്തൊക്കെയും നിന്നോടുകൂടെ ഉള്ളതുകൊണ്ടു ഉറപ്പും ധൈര്യവുമുള്ളവനായിരിക്ക; ഭയപ്പെടരുതു, ഭ്രമിക്കയും അരുതു എന്നു ഞാൻ നിന്നോടു കല്പിച്ചുവല്ലോ.”)
Bible says:
* Fear paralyzes.
* Fear distorts reality.
* Fear prevents us from making the right decisions.
* Fear forces us to retreat rather than move forward.
* Fear prevents us from entering into the wonderful plan God has for our lives.
When Jesus charged the twelve disciples with their responsibility, He told them not to be afraid of those who would seek to harm them for proclaiming the truth (Matthew 10:26-28 “അതുകൊണ്ടു അവരെ ഭയപ്പെടേണ്ടാ; മറെച്ചുവെച്ചതു ഒന്നും വെളിപ്പെടാതെയും ഗൂഢമായതു ഒന്നും അറിയാതെയും ഇരിക്കുകയില്ല. ഞാൻ ഇരുട്ടത്തുനിങ്ങളോടു പറയുന്നതു വെളിച്ചത്തു പറവിൻ; ചെവിയിൽ പറഞ്ഞുകേൾക്കുന്നതു പുരമുകളിൽനിന്നുഘോഷിപ്പിൻ. ദേഹിയെ കൊല്ലുവാൻ കഴിയാതെ ദേഹത്തെ കൊല്ലുന്നവരെ ഭയപ്പെടേണ്ടാ; ദേഹിയെയുംദേഹത്തെയും നരകത്തിൽ നശിപ്പിപ്പാൻ കഴിയുന്നവനെ തന്നേ ഭയപ്പെടുവിൻ.
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops. And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Hebrews 10:38,39) But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.(എന്നാൽ എന്റെ നീതിമാൻ വിശ്വാസത്താൽ ജീവിക്കും; പിൻമാറുന്നു എങ്കിൽ എന്റെ ഉള്ളത്തിന്നു അവനിൽപ്രസാദമില്ല. നാമോ നാശത്തിലേക്കു പിന്മാറുന്നവരുടെ കൂട്ടത്തിലല്ല, വിശ്വസിച്ചു ജീവരക്ഷ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നവരുടെകൂട്ടത്തിലത്രേ ആകുന്നു.)
Panic and fear are not from God. Calm and hope are from God. It is possible to respond to a crisis seriously and deliberately while maintaining an inner sense of calm and hope. Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.
Are we safe now? Anxiety is a real thing and can be disruptive. We live in an anxious world, and it’s increasing day by day. If it is prolonged and affecting our ability to live our life, consider making some serious life adjustments.
Jesus, then, understands all the fears and worries that you have. Jesus understands you, not only because he is divine and understands all things but because he is human and experienced all things.
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