Having Faith During COVID-19
By Laurel Head
During COVID-19, how many readers have taken time to start a garden, redone their house, or started a new hobby? I understand that those things are done to keep from boredom, but how many have started a new reading plan; expanded their prayer list to include the President, the doctors, and the families of those suffering with COVID-19; or reached out to Christians and neighbors by talking in their front yards, mailing them letters, or sending them tracts? These ideas don’t come to the front of our minds during troublesome times but it builds up our faith and helps others.
First, is building up ourselves. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “there is no new thing under the sun.” This means that even though there has never been a pandemic of COVID-19 before, there have been other pandemics that have caused much suffering. If we are stressed or worried about ourselves or our families during difficult times, we should read the Bible and try to build ourselves up and we should also pray about our worries. Also, 1 Peter 1:3-7 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to HIs abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” This means that if we keep the faith in hard times, our faith will be found worthy of praise, glory, and heaven.
Next, is helping to build up other Christians’ faith. We can send them cards, call them frequently, and pray with them over the phone. We are told to love other Christians and if they have need (such as their faith is lacking) we are to help them (build their faith up). We are all trying to go to heaven, so we need to help other Christians focus on God.
Last, is trying to convert non-Christians. As we try to build up our faith, we need to teach others that they need to be saved. That they need the Bible as the center of their life. That focusing on negative things is not helpful but that focusing on what God says is more important. Mailing tracts and having virtual or over-the-phone Bible studies can lead non-Christians to being saved or putting the see in them.
In conclusion, focusing on COVID-19 is not helpful to building anyone’s faith. We need to focus on our faith, other Christians’ faith, and those without faith but need it desperately. When we get to the end of our life, let us be able to say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing,” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).