Live by faith, not fear

It’s hard not to be concerned about the growing pandemic, especially if one listens to the fearmongers who seem to swarm everywhere.  But we need not live in fear.

The coronavirus pandemic is sweeping the globe.  What started in Asia has now spread across the planet.  Certainly the ability to carry the virus without showing symptoms aids its spread.  We might not know we’re infected until it’s too late.

And the results can be disastrous.  For example, after they became overwhelmed with infection cases, doctors in northern Italy found themselves deciding who lives and who dies.  Immersed in evidence of what might happen, some in the media have inspired fear, saying places like Northern Italy offer a glimpse of the future everywhere.

In response, many have stormed stores and cleared shelves of items they believe to be essential.  Many employers have embraced remote working arrangements as never before.  And the economy has been seriously hit as many industries dependent upon people not isolating themselves in their homes suffer.

It’s hard not to be concerned about the growing pandemic, especially if one listens to the fearmongers who seem to swarm everywhere.  But we need not live in fear.  We can live by faith, not fear.

Resist the fear

When I first heard about COVID-19 spreading beyond China’s borders, I began wondering if perhaps this would be the pandemic public health officials have been warning for years would eventually come.  As the situation escalated, very quickly everything changed.

Some seem intent on assessing blame, saying many will suffer for the insufficiencies of our initial response.  Others clearly intend to use the situation to further their own agenda.  I have zero interest in such efforts, since they don’t help anyone deal effectively with the current situation.

Neither will we deal effectively with the current situation if we succumb to Chicken Little Syndrome — surrendering to the fear spread by many that dark days have befallen us and prelude darker days directly ahead.  Indeed, as the Lord foretold, “... and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them” (D&C 45:26).

Yet I defy every fearmonger by declaring we need not fear.

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Promote the faith

How can I make such a bold declaration?  How can I be confident now is not a time for fear when the “evidence” for fear appears all around us?  Quite simply, I walk by faith.

And my faith is simple.  I know God lives.  I know He has a plan for His children, and that includes me.  And I know He will keep all His promises and fulfill all His words.

That doesn’t mean we can get away with being stupid.  If we ignore the counsel from competent public health officials, we risk infecting ourselves and those we love.  We should follow sound instruction and then walk in faith all will be as it should.

Notice I said “as it should.”  We don’t always know what “should” be in our lives.  But God knows, and we can walk in that faith.

Walking by faith in the midst of fear doesn’t mean believing you won’t be infected because you have faith.  But it does mean living with confidence God will not allow events to stray too far from His purposes.  That may mean I won’t get ill.  But it could also mean I will.  After all, I don’t know all of God’s purposes for me.

I do know, however, that in either event I can have confidence God’s plan to bless me with whatever is best for me will unfold.  And whatever happens, He will not abandon me.  His tender mercies will always surround me.

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Shine your light

That faith which fills me can fill you as well.  We can all walk by faith, not fear.  And the opportunities before us extend well beyond our own selves.  Because we have the light of the restored gospel, we can shine our light to others.  We can inspire them to walk by faith, not fear.

Can we see beyond ourselves to grasp the opportunity to share the light we have with all around us?  We can if we walk by faith, not fear.  I had just such a moment yesterday speaking with my landlord and his wife.  She expressed a fear to go anywhere outside her house.  I gently rebutted her comment with faith, saying if we take proper precautions to limit our exposure, we need not fret.  You could feel the reassurance which my simple, gentle faith promoted.

Let us all walk by faith, not fear.  Let us radiate faith, lighting the world around us with confidence that, come what may, God will see each of us to our best end.  When we do, we can increase faith in the earth.  We can expand the boundaries of hope.  We can multiply love in the hearts of all people.  And that will bring us more joy in our journey.

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You can listen to the monologue from today's episode of Joy In The Journey Radio here.  Please also feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Want to hear more?  Listen to the whole show by going to the show page for this episode.