In the past number of weeks, our lives have been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us are afraid, anxious, and worried. We’re struggling to cope with the new challenges that have come our way: the kids are suddenly home all day, there’s job insecurity, financial uncertainty, health concerns, loneliness, fear, anxiety. The list goes on and on.
In these uncertain times, I find deep comfort in the words of Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble” (vs. 1). The Bible never promises a trouble-free life. We live in a broken world that has been deeply affected by what the Bible calls the Fall into Sin and sin itself. Sin is rebellion against God and making ourselves the center of the universe rather than him. Troubles, trials, and pandemics are simply a reality of living in this fragile world that’s been broken by sin. Yet God does not leave us alone. God promises to be with us in our troubles, to guide us through them, and to bring peace in the chaos. This is exactly what he’s done by sending Jesus Christ into this world to be our peace on earth.
Good Friday and Easter are just days away. During this time, we remember that Jesus Christ was nailed to an old, rugged and accursed cross. In doing so, he took all our brokenness and sinful rebellion against God upon himself and so re-established our peace with God. And now because of the love of Jesus ‒ who has also risen from the dead! ‒ we now have a new life and new confidence that God will be our ever-present help in times of trouble! We also have bright hope for the future. One day all our troubles will be gone! One day, Jesus himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, no more pandemics (Revelation 21:4). We’ll have a new life unbroken by sin and trouble, bursting with peace and joy in the presence of God!
When we truly believe this, we have nothing to fear! That’s exactly what Psalm 46 goes on to say, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” This pandemic has made it feel like the earth has given way and the mountains have fallen into the heart of the sea! And yet even this will not cause us to fear. Nothing ‒ not even this pandemic ‒ can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39)!
Later in the Psalm God speaks directly: “Be still and know that I am God” (vs. 10). Be still ‒ that’s a hard thing to do right now, isn’t it? We want to do something, but God says be still. This doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to prevent the spread of this virus. The Bible never forbids us from planning and taking preventative measures. But the best and most important thing you and I can do now is to stop panicking, stop fearing, and simply be still and wait upon the Lord.
You can do that when, by God’s grace and Spirit, you know, believe and trust that God is not an evil god who delights in sickness, suffering, and death. He is a good God, who is truly a refuge and ever-present help in times of trouble! And so I encourage you, don’t be afraid…be still in the presence of the Lord. Pray to him. Find your strength in him. Put your trust and faith in him and in his Son Jesus Christ. He’s your refuge in troubled times and the only one who can carry you through this pandemic!