Chaplain Steve Dawson | Mar 18, 2020
It seems there are three different kinds of thinking regarding all the reality and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. One group is annoyed and angry, thinking the whole thing is a joke or maybe even a hyped-up issue for political jockeying. A second group seems to be in outright panic mode; emptying stores of toilet paper and Lysol, stocking up in fear of an apocalypse. Then somewhere in the middle are those who are trying to be logical, respectful, and sensible. They realize the need for proactive measures but have no real fear. They are able to respect protocols with understanding while continuing on with as much normalcy as possible.
My prayer is you are closer to the third group than either of the other extremes. I believe faith, in uncertain times like these, can be helpful. But what is faith, anyway? And what does it have to do with our current COVID-19 world?
The Bible tells us faith is having confidence in things that give us hope and a conviction of assurance in what we can’t see.
In other words, to exhibit faith in something (and that “something” is the object of what we are placing our faith in), means to have a firm, resolute confidence with a complete belief and conviction of a reality, even though we can’t objectively see it.
I hope, as your chaplain, you can experience faith in God at this time. He is the one who knows all and loves all. May he truly be the object of your faith. But how do we put this faith into action? Or, back to my earlier question: “What does it have to do with COVID-19 and me?” Maybe we can answer this question by responding, in faith, to a few possible questions.
You can trust even in the uncertainty and frustrations of what this coronavirus means for the coming days God does know, and things will indeed continue on.
So, may I share this simple encouragement to pray, hope, and not worry. Someone once said, “Sometimes you have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting. Have faith that things will work out, maybe not how you planned but just how it’s meant to be.”