I’ve never been able to have conversations over my daughter’s head, the way you usually can with small children. A precocious extrovert now nearing 8-years-old, Marie always wants to be part of any conversation going on around her, regardless of topic. She even has watched several Democratic debates in their entirety, with great enthusiasm. And so, it was not too surprising when she told me recently that she’s scared about the coronavirus and has been for the past month.
I prayed with her that day, laying claim to God’s promise that perfect love casts out fear. I would like to extend that prayer to all of you reading this - I pray that God’s perfect love would cast out fear and provide you with peace.
This is not to say that COVID-19 is not a serious threat to us here. We should be aware and not complacent. Now, while we are still in the early stages of this outbreak locally, we have the opportunity to save lives by being proactive about hand washing, social distancing, and absolutely staying home when sick. It is essential to take these steps in order to avoid overwhelming our health care system’s capacity.
Now is the time for action, not denial of an unpleasant truth. Even if you’re not worried for your own health — take these precautions as an act of love for those around you.
At the same time, we need not be consumed by fear. God is with us in this challenging time. He loves us and will see us through this to the other side. God is love and we carry that love with us wherever we go.
1 John 4:18 (NIV)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.
About the Author
Ursula and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon.
You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.