Thinking about the Truth during a Pandemic

My family has spent the last eight days quarantined in our home awaiting test results that would tell us if our four month old little girl has COVID-19. The night before all this began our four month old threw up. Then we noticed she was running a fever and coughing. The next morning we called her pediatrician. I was certain the doctor would not want us to bring our baby in during this pandemic and would simply tell us what to watch for instead. She called us in. When the doctor came into our room she was wearing a protective gown, gloves, a mask and a face shield. Nurses spoke to the doctor and slipped testing items to her through a crack in the door instead of coming into the room. These were all necessary precautions. My anxiety increased. They decided to test my daughter. I thought we would know in three to four hours max. They said it would be three to four days. That was eight days ago.

Understandably the lab has been overloaded with tests. We just found out this morning that daughter's test came back negative. She does not have COVID-19. Over the course of this past eight days there were many times when I was sure the test would come back negative, but there were also times when I thought about the potential danger of it being positive and of this virus killing our sweet little girl. A few times during the week as I held her in my arms and sang to comfort her an intrusive thought slipped into my mind. What if I have to hold my baby in my arms just like this and sing to try to comfort her in vain while she dies? 

Now, if I had indulged that thought I could have lived in fear of it all week and the enemy could’ve gained some power over my mind. But instead, I thought on what was true. Yes, this virus is dangerous, that’s true. Yes, my daughter could have had it. And yes, I could not guarantee that she wouldn't die from it. All of these were true, but they were only half truths because I didn't even know yet if she did have it. So I chose to think on the greater truths of God. I reminded myself that God is good, that God is in control, that He has a plan, and that nothing will come to pass without His say so. I chose to fix my minds on these truths.

In God's good providence I was preaching on Philippians 4:8 this past Sunday which has to do with just this topic. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

It's hard to know what’s true in our world today. Scripture tells us that Satan is a liar. In fact, he is the father of lies and half-truths. He has deceived the whole world. He holds power over the people of this world through his misinformation. You and I cannot afford to let him into our heads. How do we keep his lies out? By thinking on what's true. Fix your thoughts on what you know to be true, that is on God and His Word, including His gospel. Think on the things that have been proven true by these.

Be careful to filter your thoughts through the Truth during this difficult season of anxiety.

Anxious (W.o.W. Rewind)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Lately, I have been under a lot of stress. I've been very anxious and weighed down by things that concern me. I could give you a long list of good reasons why I am stressed. I do legitimately have things to worry about, as I am sure you do. But at the end of the day, the truth is that I am stressed and weighed down because I am carrying these burdens around on myself, rolling them over and over in my mind making them seem bigger than they are, instead of lifting them up to my Lord. 

The Christian never has reason to be conquered by anxiety, because he has access to the unfathomable peace of God. Philippians 4:6-7 gives us a very straightforward plan for attacking anxiety in our lives. In every situation, we are to present our requests to God. We pray and we ask God for what we need, being careful to remember to be grateful for all He has done for us in the past. 

Something amazing happens when a Christian lifts his concerns up to the Lord. Because he knows that God has accepted him in Christ, he knows that God has heard his prayers. Prayer becomes a means by which he can cast his burdens on Him. The believer walks away knowing that he no longer needs to worry about those issues because they have been entrusted to the Lord. God is in control and He will deal with those concerns wisely. The Bible tells us that handing our anxiety over to the Lord in this way produces the most amazing peace in the believer's life. This peace, which is beyond our capacity to understand, is from God and of God. The Bible tells us that it stands guard over our heart like a soldier protecting us from anxiety. There is no peace like the assurance that a loving God has taken your worries under His care. Christians have endured the gravest situations and the worst tortures with divine calm because of this peace, and it is certainly more than I need to conquer my worries. 

Are you weighed down by worry today? Take some time to lift your concerns up to Him. Be careful to be thankful, but ask Him for all you need. You may be surprised at how much difference prayer can make in your outlook on life. It is not uncommon for me to experience a loosening of the muscles in my shoulders and neck as I pray until I feel physically lighter. You may not realize how stressed you are until you begin to lift your requests up to the Lord.

For further reading...

• Matt 11:28-30- Cast your burdens on the Lord. 
• Hebrews 10:19-25- Confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.

Burning a Hole in My Pocket

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 14:2-3

The fact that Jesus is preparing a place for the believer in Heaven means that she has no need to prepare one for herself here on earth. She doesn't have to live in fear of the future and hoard wealth to provide for herself. Her future is well provided for already! This frees her up to live as Jesus commanded: to take up her cross and die to herself, to live on faith forgoing treasure and comfort here on earth in order to store up more treasure in Heaven. 

The believer is reminded by these verses that this world is not her home. She is simply passing through. She won't be here long, and she would be wise to join Jesus in His work of preparing a place for herself that will last for eternity. But that isn't how most believers live is it? No. 

It reminds me of my many years in youth ministry. Whenever I would take a group of middle schoolers on a trip to a theme park, there was always one kid who couldn't manage his money. That $20 bill was burning a hole in his pocket. He'd spend half of it at the first gas station on soda and candy. He was living like a king on the way to the theme park. All the other kids were jealous, but by the time we actually got where we were going, he was broke. He didn't have enough money left for lunch. There he was asking kids if he could have a bite of their lunch or borrow some money. Inevitably, me or one of the other adult leaders would buy him some food. This middle school kid perfectly captures how so many believers approach life on earth. Some of you are living in style right now, but you are in danger of being a pauper in Heaven. You've forgotten that you'll only be here for a short time. You're just passing through. If you aren’t careful you'll spend all your time, energy and resources enjoying the ride and forget to save up for the final destination.

Be wise. "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:20-21).

A Mist

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

James 4:13-16

Early this morning a tornado ripped through Middle Tennessee. It tore a 50 mile long path across four counties through homes, businesses, and schools leaving devastation and death in its wake. As of right now the death toll stands at twenty-five. That's twenty-five lives lost and twenty-five families forever changed. Had it not happened in the middle of the night, it could have been much worse.

Occasionally we are reminded just how fleeting life is, just how quickly our world can change. It's humbling to think that it very easily could have been my family, my home, my church, or my kids' school that was destroyed. But it's uncomfortable for us to be humbled in this way. It kicks against our natural pride, independence, and self-reliance to live everyday of our lives under the knowledge that God holds our lives in His hands. And so we do our best to forget the feelings of powerlessness as quickly as possible. We try to get back to "real life", get back to "normal." But maybe we shouldn't.

This passage in James teaches that we shouldn't live like our lives will go on forever. Instead, we should live each day understanding that we don't know what tomorrow will bring. We should live fully aware that our life is like a mist that is already disappearing. We exist at God's pleasure. Every day we wake up is a gift from Him. So, as we pray for those affected by this storm and as we help with cleanup, let's not go back to life as it was. Instead, let's live each day for Him understanding that today is a gift from Him and it could be our last.