It’s impossible to get away from it: the virus that everyone is talking about has taken the centre of the world stage, and it’s too easy for us to feel a sense of fear or dread about such situations that are outside our control. As Christians, we’re called not to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). So how should we respond?
A great place for us to look for guidance is Psalm 91 — it’s a powerful message of hope for God’s family that we can read, meditate on and pray through.
The Psalmist says that as those who “have made the Lord our dwelling place”, Christians can look to God for His support, protection and guidance. Here are 6 promises that God makes to believers that can encourage us when the night seems at its darkest.
1. He will protect us: because we know His name
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him. I will protect him, because he knows my name. (Psalm 91:14)
How do we know His name? Because He revealed it to us. As Christians we know that the knowledge of God’s character and name is only by God’s divine revelation — and not by anything that we have done.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
He gave His son because He loves us: this can give us confidence that there’s nothing that can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39), even our doubts.
2. He is our refuge and fortress
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
The writer of Psalm 91 understood that God is both our place of refuge and also our protection. Do you think of God as your refuge — a safe place to hide when evil threatens? Or are you placing your hope for safety and protection from the virus in things that the world tries to offer, such as wearing a mask, stockpiling loo roll or distancing yourself socially from others? Only God can provide us with the eternal hope and security we seek.
3. His angels guard us
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)
It’s hugely comforting to know that God’s angels — the very warrior-worshippers that God uses throughout the Bible to strengthen people, bring important news, and who comforted Jesus after His 40 days in the wilderness — those very same angels are working today, instructed by our Father in heaven to protect His people as we walk through this life.
4. When we call to Him, He answers
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honour him. (Psalm 91:15)
God doesn’t say that we will never be in trouble. But He does promise to be with us in our trouble. When we call out to Him for help, He will answer.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are bound and thrown into the burning furnace (Daniel 3), their strong faith showed as they spoke boldly to King Nebuchadnezzar:
“…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.“ (Daniel 3:17-18)
They were not only rewarded with surviving through this fiery trial, but God showed His awesome power to everyone on that day by completely protecting them:
The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. (Daniel 3:27)
At TBN UK we have countless testimonies of God stepping into painful situations and answering powerfully by His grace and mercy. During these times, He even promises to give us peace beyond all understanding to help guard our minds and hearts (Philippians 4:7). How great is His mercy for us!
5. He will show us His salvation
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Psalm 91:16)
Have you ever stood next to an older lady or gentleman while they worship? You might have sung the song a thousand times, but as you watch them sing to God through tears, you can see what this verse is talking about: God has revealed to them His salvation over decades and decades of real, gritty life. Through the good times and darker times, God has remained faithful to them and has always been there.
6. We do not need to fear
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. (Psalm 91:7)
Verses 3, 6 and 7 of Psalm 91 talk about the pestilence, or disease. It’s clear that in biblical times they had greater cause to fear disease than we do, with our antibiotics, doctors and the NHS. Even so, it’s easy to think about the Coronavirus in the way verse 6 describes: as a disease ‘that stalks in the darkness’. That’s the way the world — especially social media — portrays it.
But God says it plainly: we can trust in Him, completely. Don’t fear the disease. Don’t fear death. We have an eternal salvation, a hope that is everlasting, through Christ Jesus, for all who believe.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t be sensible. In fact, when the Devil quotes verse 11 of this very Psalm to Jesus in the desert, Jesus responds by rebuking him with another quote from scripture:
“Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:7)
We can be fearless, but we shouldn’t be foolish. Don’t test God’s favour: just be assured by the knowledge of it and be guided each by the Holy Spirit living inside us.
Our role: sharing the light
It doesn’t stop there though. There are so many lost people in the world who still live in the darkness, and who don’t share the hope we have in such troubling situations. The harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37), and as Peter says:
…always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect… (1 Peter 3:15)
In these difficult times, don’t allow fear to isolate you and cause you to become inward-focussed, worried only about your health and safety. Now is the most important time to call to God to strengthen our faith, and to look out for our neighbours to see how we can support and help them — praying that God will give us opportunities to share about God’s eternal hope.
Certainly, let’s pray for healing. But let’s not forget to pray for revival.
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You can hear and submit your testimonies of God’s intervention in your situation on our weekly Partner Time programme, on TBN UK, every Monday at 7pm.
Do you know someone who needs to hear this message? Why not tag or share this with them, and comment below with any other passages from scripture that you have found encouraging at this time.
