Truths About God in Light of the Coronavirus

I'm not an alarmist. I never have been, especially where global events are concerned. If there's nothing I can do about something, I would rather just go about my life until it hits close to home. 

When the Coronavirus hit China, I was of course concerned for the people affected, and prayed that God would work in the situation, and was encouraged to hear about Christians facing the threat of illness and death with faith, hope, and grace. It was so far away, though, and part of me thought that of course the virus would never come close enough to affect me, so I prayed, but did not really bother to think deeply about the matter, because it seemed so far removed from my daily life. 

Then last night, I learned that a case had been reported in my county. This morning, I learned that the person who had contracted the illness lived just one small town over from where I live. It still doesn't quite seem real, somehow, but it is a lot closer to home, and people are now talking seriously about "what if"s… you know, the "what if we get quarantined?", "what if school has to close?", "what if  American society and economy crumble completely?", "What if it's the end of the world?"... Seriously, people are beginning to feel as if the world is spinning out of control with no hope in sight. Even the high-ranking medical officials are frightened and worry that they will not be able to contain the virus. 

But we do not need to live in fear. Why? 

Not because the Coronavirus is something to be brushed off: it is a very serious matter. 

Not because our government or medical professionals have all the answers: they don't. 

Not even because America is somehow immune from everything that goes wrong in the world: it isn't. 

The reason we as Christians do not need to fear is because God does not change. I was reminded during my time with God this morning of some truths about God which apply to our view of the Coronavirus situation:

• God is Omniscient. (He has all knowledge.) The Coronavirus has not caught God off-guard. He knows, and has always known, that this would come at this specific moment in history, and He also knows what the outcome will be.
• God is Omnipotent. (He has all power.) Man on his own lacks the resources and ability to fight this virus, but God does not. He is able to do anything, and the truth of His ability should cause us to turn to Him for hope, rather than pinning our hopes on man's efforts.
• God is Merciful (He does not give us what we deserve). Let's face it: God could justly destroy the entire human race because of our sin, but the whole point of the Gospel is that God loves us and desires to show mercy. Why else would He sacrifice Himself for us? God is merciful, and if we look for it, we will see His hand of mercy in this crisis as well as in every other aspect of our lives. Lamentations 3 is a good chapter to read in times of difficulty and fear, for it speaks of God's mercy being new every morning, even in the midst of affliction.
• God is Good (He never does wrong; He is not malicious.) God is not just sitting around in heaven thinking up things He can send our way to annoy or hurt us. He is just, and He is good. He only does that which is right. In respect to the Coronavirus, this truth can help us to trust that He not only knows, but is doing what is right. He means this crisis for good for His people, and for those who are not His yet, but whose hearts will be softened towards Him through the pressure of this crisis. --God means this for good!

There are so many other truths about God which we can be encouraged by, even if the Coronavirus hits our towns, our homes, our loved ones, or even ourselves. The key is to fight fear with the truths of God's character. 

Satan loves to use fear to introduce lies about God and derail us in the midst of a crisis God means to use to build up our faith. By immersing ourselves in the truths of God's Word, we can fight fear and live with joy, hope, and peace in the face of a humanly scary and hopeless time.

Philippians 4:8 for the Christian Writer

I've been thinking about writing this post for a while.

 I wasn't sure if it should be a blog post, an Instagram blurb, or if it was just something I was simply meant to learn. I have found, though, that what God teaches me, He usually means me to share with others.

That having been said, I should begin at the beginning: the night I began to write my "accidental novel". It was a school night, and  all day I had been looking forward to the hour I had planned to set aside and work on my nearly-finished manuscript of a study on a passage in Proverbs 30 (More to come about that!).

As I prepared to work, I went to the kitchen to get some tea. I had two kinds of loose-leaf tea I was trying to decide between, so I did what any tea lover would do and checked to see which one smelled the best. As I smelled first one, and then the other, something happened in the writer part of my imagination and next thing I knew, I was delightedly scribbling thoughts down in a notebook, curious where this little seed of a story might lead. After my fit of scribbling had subsided, I was left with several pages which read like the beginning of a novel. --And I loved where the story was going!

It was not until I had a couple of close friends read the short exerpt that I began to do some research into writing a novel. I listened to podcasts, found author advice videos on YouTube, and eventually ordered a book about structuring a novel. The more I learned, the more I realized just how much work there is in planning out a good story, and how lacking my very vague idea of a plot was.

And then there was the nagging thought that novels are not exactly what I want to be known for. I would much rather write nonfiction about things that matter. Then one night, I was listening to a podcast episode on choosing/writing characters, and the statement was made that the main characters should all flesh out the story's theme in some way. I felt utterly overwhelmed.

I didn't have a theme.

In fact, I didn't even have the faintest glimmering of a theme... and I wasn't sure how to get one.

 So, I did the only thing I could do and started talking to God about it. I hadn't talked to God about this story yet, and once I began, all my fears and apprehensions surfaced. I sat there in my car asking God if I should even be writing this story. It was so out of my league, and I was so overwhelmed by the structure and planning I didn't know how to start.

And besides, I thought, Is it right for me to be writing fiction at all? Can a novel glorify God? I have read Christian novels before, and I knew it was an accepted thing to write a novel that was meant to bring glory to God, but could my story really do that?

As I wrestled with these questions, I finally cried out to God:  I need a theme. But it has to be the right theme, a theme that will glorify You. I want my story to be true. I know it's fiction, but I want it to be built upon a truth.

God graciously helped me to find a theme which was founded upon a truth I have been learning in my own life in recent years, and once I had the theme, I knew exactly where the story would end up. (Even though I'm still not exactly sure how it will get there yet.) In fact, while thinking out the theme, I ended up writing what will eventually be the very last sentence of the novel.

My story is no longer just a few pages scribbled out for fun; it has a purpose I can get excited about, and I have a track to run on with all the numerous decisions necessary to planning out a plot.


In all this wrestling over what to write and how to write it, I have been reminded over and over again of Philippians 4:8.

"Finally, bretheren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

That is my standard against which my novel --and anything else I write-- must be judged. Will it cause people to think on that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy? Will readers come away with those things in their heads and hearts? Do the characters and plot exhibit or exalt these qualities? These are the questions that drive my writing decisions. It is a grave responsibility to represent Christ in irrevocable print, for all the world to see. I want to represent Him well. These qualities at least point me in the right direction as I consider whether my storyline and characters will fulfill their purpose of glorifying God and representing His truths well.  

Freedom Through Truth

"Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

They answered Him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?

Jesus answered them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

John 8:31-36

This passage is often quoted, but I had not really pondered it until recently. As Jesus said, the Truth (God's Word) does make us free from sin, but often we seem to be defeated by the very sin we were supposed to be set free from. Positionally we are free: we have God's divine empowering to say no to sin, but practically, we tend to live like sin is still our master.

This passage made me realize that it's not just a matter of doing better (although we do need to obey the Spirit's promptings), but actually choosing to believe God's Word over Satan's lies.

When I don't feel free, there's always a lie somewhere in my thinking.

It might be the lie of "it's not that big a deal..." or, "Only a little won't hurt anything" or, "I just can't help myself..." or any number of lies Satan might use to get us off course, but freedom only comes when we believe the truth of God's Word and choose to reject the lies of Satan.

So when you don't feel free, recognize that there's a lie somewhere, and go digging for the Truth instead!

When God Withholds

Yesterday was Valentine's day. And you know what? It wasn't horrible.

I woke up this morning and was reflecting on what made this year's Valentines day different. I'm still single like I was the years it was so hard, I'm still living at home with my parents like I was, and honestly, not much has changed. What has changed, however, is the focus of my heart.

The Bible says "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11b)

For years, the focus of my heart was on the "someday" when God would stop withholding that which I was sure was His plan for me. I was just biding my time until God decided to bring the right one along for me to marry.

But that attitude and that heart-focus both run contrary to the character of God. He does not withhold that which is good. If He does withhold something, it is because it would not be a "good thing" for us.

I had come to understand this in the last few years, and that has helped my contentment enormously, but this morning the Holy Spirit pointed out this verse during my time with God and took me to the next step with this truth.

It's not just that marriage is being withheld because it isn't a good thing, it's that singleness has been given because it is. If God had given me what I wanted, I would have been so busy with husband and kids and housework that I would never have learned all the things being single has taught me. And I also would likely not have become a writer.

The more I thought about this, the more I could see how God had given me this season of singleness on purpose, because it is exactly the "good thing" I needed to propel me into the place of influence and purpose He planned for me to fill.

And since I know that God sees singleness as a good thing, and meant this season exactly for me, I don't need to feel left out or as if something is missing. I have all I need because He has provided. That's why this Valentine's day was not the day of discouragement and discontent it used to be, because I have a sense of purpose that calls me to trust the Lord's plan and be content in His loving care.

Contentment chooses to see what is given, rather than that which is withheld.

Only by Pride

Every once in a while I have a day where it seems the world is out to get me. I know, of course, that this is not true, but it seems that way nevertheless. (Ever notice how one’s feelings can so easily fail to correspond with reality?)

On those days, whether it is friction with family, disappointment with other drivers in traffic, or a classful of students who seem bound and determined to make their day (and mine) as unpleasant as possible, by the end of the day it can feel like there is conflict all around me.

The reality usually is that there are only one or two people actually being difficult, and the rest is all the result of my grumpy attitude’s skewed perception.

Of course, God knows all about us, and has anticipated the contention we so commonly experience in life. Instead of turning outward in selfish anger from a bitter, grudging view of how everyone else is to blame, God directs us toward ourselves:

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” Proverbs 13:10

So there it is: the only source of contention is pride. I therefore have the responsibility to meet contention with humility. It is very rare that I have experienced contention in which my own pride has had no part. There is almost always something I can humble myself and ask forgiveness for in any situation of contention.

Taking a situation from the perspective of humility not only helps us to avoid contention (if we can be humble in the first place, contention won’t have a chance to appear), it also helps with the resolution of contention.

When you’re holding onto a grudge or a grumpy attitude there’s nothing that takes the wind out of your sails faster than having someone come in humility and apologize for something you were partially responsible for. Like I said, it’s usually not hard to find something I could have done better in a given situation. Being the first to ask forgiveness is hard, (what an understatement!) but it goes a long, long way towards mending the rift caused by contention. I Peter 5:5 says we should be “clothed with humility”, which is crucial, for as it goes on to state, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”.

If we hold on to that feeling of the world being against us, we are in reality refusing the grace God offers for every situation in our lives. –Perhaps it feels like the world is against us because we are pridefully holding on to our “rights” and God is –faithful to His Word—resisting us.

When we respond in humility, however, we open up the floodgates, as it were, for God’s grace to work. We are in agreement with God’s perspective of us as we really are in His sight, and we can more readily see others in the light of that reality as well. Instead of focusing on their faults, we see our own, and are reminded that we are sinners in need of a Savior, just like anyone else.

Humility will also prompt obedience, whether restitution or asking forgiveness, or simply praying for the person with whom the contention was happening. Whatever action the Holy Spirit prompts, pride will balk at it, but humility will embrace it.
So, next time you’re tempted to grumble about the people God puts in your life, remember that you are a sinner saved by grace, and accept God’s grace in humility.

Book Review: Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot

When one of my friends recommended Let Me Be a Woman as our next book club read, I was thrilled! I had heard of this book from several people, and I have always found Elisabeth Elliot's writings to be helpful and insightful, so I jumped at the excuse to spend some time with this little volume.

The book itself is not very long, and although there are 49 chapters, each one is only a few pages. it made a good "filler" read for when I had just a few spare minutes here and there. 

That having been said, this book has a great deal of substance. Written as a sort of letter to her daughter on the occasion of her marriage, this book contains some powerful arguments against the modern feminist movement. It was originally written in 1976, but the message is still vibrantly true and needful today. 

The overall premise is that God has designed women to be the most fulfilled when they are fulfilling the purpose for which He has designed them. 

Simple, right? 

But what the Bible clearly teaches about God's design for women is so very different from the feminist perspective, and there have been many arguments put forth against the Biblical model of womanhood. This book combats some of the most common of these arguments. It also gives some excellent perspective on how God intends for marriage to work and some good advice on some points to consider before entering marriage. 

This is my favorite quote from the book:

 "The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be." 

Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace

Judges 6:1-24

Gideon was a man of fear.

He was hiding for fear of the marauding Midianites when the angel appeared to him. He was fearful upon receiving the message from God, and asked for two different signs to confirm it was really God's message. Then, when he realized that it wasn't just an angel, but God Himself (a Theophany: an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ), Gideon was afraid he would be struck dead.

Yes, Gideon certainly was a man of fear. --Yet God called him a "mighty man of valor". (v.12) Despite Gideon's fears and insecurities, (or maybe even because of them) God did use him to bring victory and at least a measure of revival to Israel. Afraid or not, he led an army against impossible odds and saw God fight for His people in a remarkable way. When it came time to act, he showed great boldness in performing that which God had told him to do.

So what changed?

When he realized that he had seen God, Gideon was afraid, and rightly so. He had doubted God to His face, and had even accused Him of forsaking His people. -A glimpse of the Holy God always brings us to the inescapable knowledge of our own sinfulness. Yet God's reply to this culmination of Gideon's fears was not rebuke, but peace.

"And the Lord said unto him, Peace, be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." (v.23)

And there, having met with God, Gideon found peace with God that gave him the courage to take action for God and to obey, whatever the cost. Gideon named the altar he built that day in memorial of his meeting with God Jehovah-Shalom, or, the Lord is Peace.

He was headed --at God's command-- to a battle, yet God had patiently assured him every step of the way that He would bring victory over the enemy.

Gideon's people were not yet at peace, but Gideon nevertheless could rest in God's promise of victory and truly declare that "the Lord is peace".

In this wicked world, we are not at peace. We are not to be at peace with the world, for "the friendship of the world is enmity with God"  (James 4:4), but we serve the God of peace, who has promised us the victory, which He has already won. (Romans 16:20, I Cor. 15:57)

Externally, there may not be peace in this world, but we can have peace internally, however wildly the enemies may rage without. All we have to do is run to "the God of peace" and rest in His victory.