Has your email been inundated lately with articles about anxiety? Mine has. With daily COVID-19 reports circulating from a surplus of media outlets, it’s easy to lean in to a culture of worry. Should we be responsible regarding current happenings and update reports? Absolutely. But if our worldview filter is not christocentric and shaped by the hope of a glorious future, we will quickly find ourselves pulled in the direction of despair.
I’m immensely appreciative for the care and concern shown by God’s people during this time, however, and their desire to share helpful tools for Christlike growth. After all, anxiety is a big deal. It’s a real issue with many of us, in different ways I suspect. (Take a moment to consider the ways in which you have ceased or have been tempted to cease trusting God during the current pandemic.)
It doesn’t have to be this way, my friends! In fact, we are commanded to not be anxious (Philippians 4:6). What a gracious command. We must not worry because we have been given many precious promises to cling to. Consider just five:
1. Nothing will separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31-39).
2. Believers have been raised with Christ, are able to set their minds on heavenly things, and will appear with Christ in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).
3. The Spirit does help believers in times of weakness. This corresponds with the believer’s ability and privilege to consider present suffering minuscule compared to the glory to be revealed (Romans 8:18-27).
4. God really is using COVID-19 for his glory and the good of his people (Romans 8:28-30).
5. God esteems his children as more valuable than birds and lilies. As our heavenly Father, he knows exactly what we need and graciously provides to that end (Matthew 6:25-34).
Our mandate in light of COVID-19 is to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). In fact, if there is anything positive to be said about anxiety, it’s that the believer is commanded to express concern/care (stemming from the Greek word for anxiety) for others (1 Corinthians 12:25 and Philippians 2:20). Sinful anxiety turns us inward to only focus on our survival and desire to obtain maximum happiness in this life. Any type of valid “anxiety” (better deemed “concern” or “care”) is that which moves us outward to love and serve others, which is ultimately love for God. How can we not love in times like these, when he has loved us with an ineffable love we can only begin to fully comprehend? Let us not be an implosive people, but rather explosive. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to the one who believes (Romans 1:16)! May we thrive, not just survive! We should shine brighter in our community more now than ever—even though social distancing is being enforced. Pray and seek the wisdom of others on how you can love creatively during this time, how you can boldly propagate the gospel to the lost and minister it to your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Just last week, Pastor Greg published a blog entitled, “Redeeming the Time During the COVID-19 Crisis.” I’d like to add another application component, namely one aimed at studying and killing sinful anxiety during this extraordinary time. Scroll down to view three lessons on anxiety that you can use with your family, a friend, or perhaps during your times alone with God. My hope is to help us think biblically and with great fervency about our need (and ability in Christ) to trust our sovereign Lord. Like Mary, may we choose the “good portion” and sit at Jesus feet to listen to his teaching (Luke 10:38-42).
