“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
There are many things in this world that are unpredictable. And we are so so familiar with 3 of them, Covid 19, Hurricane Hanna, and that weird storm that came through Saturday night. We go through scary seasons, like the one we are going through now where we see people losing their job, getting really sick, or even losing a loved one. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but what we cannot do is live in fear.
One thing we know for sure is that fear is normal. It is in our human DNA to be afraid of things. Some people are afraid of things like the Cucuy or spiders, “I’m afraid of spiders Coach.” (The Replacements) Others are afraid of things like death or being alone. Fear is a natural human response to the different situations we find ourselves in, BUT we have choices.
We can choose how we respond to fear. We can choose to let fear control us and ruin our lives. We can choose to live in fear and avoid situations or things that we are afraid of. Or we can choose to face our fears and trust that God will help us and save us from our fear.
Covid 19 has brought a lot of fear into our lives. The experts have told us that we can do our best at keeping this virus at bay by: washing your hands often, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often, wear a mask, physical distancing of at least 6 feet, avoiding large gatherings, are a few of the recommendations.
I don’t remember who said this but maybe someone here can help remember who said, “God is bigger than the boogie man.”
None of us knows when this global pandemic will end, but we can choose to live in faith, not fear; faith in a God who cares for us, loves us, is in control of every detail, and who will never leave us or forsake us.
“Nothing can happen to you unless it goes through God’s fingers first.”
-Dr. Tony Evans
God is so much bigger than any fear, Covid 19, Hurricane Hanna, and the boogie man. Big or small, God is always bigger. Remember that He has put you in this season for a reason and He will help you through it. Stay strong in your faith, seek His face, face your fears and He will always take you by the hand.
Family Time:
Watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK72_--ZsM4
Go over these questions together and share:
What is it that you are afraid of?
Have you spoken about it before?
Have you prayed to God about it?
If you have prayed about it, what did God tell you? Walk with you?
Meditate:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Pray:
Father, I ask that you give me the wisdom to remember to shift my focus from my fears to You. You are capable of taking care of any issues that come my way. I need to learn to live a life full of faith and not one of fear. Forgive me for not turning to you sooner. I pray this in the name of Jesus, AMEN.
About the author:
Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.