I’ve been hesitant to write anything regarding the coronavirus. Frankly, I’ve felt oversaturated and overwhelmed. Right now, life feels so unusual and upended. I’ve been prone to anxiety and have been actively fighting an anxious heart and feelings of discontentment, and I imagine I’m not the only one feeling those things.
COVID-19 has revealed that any semblance of control I thought I had, is just that – an illusion. When life feels steady and “normal”, it can be easy to think we have more control than we actually do.
One of the things that’s caused many of us anxiety is the fear of the unknown:
How much longer will this go on?
How much worse will it get, before it begins to get better?
What will life look like on this other side of this?
For many of us, the Lord is pulling back the curtain and showing us something that’s been true all along – we’ve never really been in control.I’ve been comforted by reminders of God’s character, that He is, in fact, sovereign and in control, that He can be trusted completely, and we aren’t alone in the midst of this global pandemic. Whenever I’ve gotten anxious, I’ve paused and prayed that the Lord would build my trust in Him, and that I’d grow to look more like Him, in this midst of this unsteady moment.
“For Those Flooded by Too Much Information” Liturgy
This prayer puts words to what I’ve been feeling. Below are a few of my favorite experts from it:
“But you, O Jesus, are not disquieted by such news of cruelty and terror and war. You are neither anxious nor overwhelmed. You carried the full weight of the suffering of a broken world when you hung upon the cross, and you carry it still.”
“Give us discernment in the face of troubling news reports. Give us discernment to know when to pray, when to speak out, when to act, and when to simply shut off our screens and our devices, and to sit quietly in your presence, casting the burdens of this world upon the strong shoulders of the one who alone is able to bear them up.”
You can read the entire liturgy here.
Scripture to Meditate Upon:
“In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1
“Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you” – Psalm 33:20-22
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my rests rock, my refugee is God.” – Psalm 62:5-7
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up.” – Psalm 68:19
“In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.” – Psalm 86:7
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