Christ, COVID, and Calm

We’re heading back into fall, and we can expect to continue our coexistence with the novel coronavirus. Of course, we continue to pray and hope for treatments and a vaccine, but I’d like to explore what dependence on Christ looks like during this most unusual time.

The Peace of Christ in the Community

God’s Word makes it clear that our trust in him does not keep us from trials or challenges. Quite the contrary! We know trials and challenges will come. Our trust in him, though, will carry us through them, teach us valuable lessons from them, and grow our faith to enable us to trust him more.

I’ve endured some trials during which I wanted to just cry out, “Tell me what it is you want me to learn, and I’ll learn it!” It can be painful and hard when we walk through a season like that, one when there seems to be no end in sight. I feel similarly about this year. The difference this year is that we are all walking through some version of the same trial. It’s a hard truth, but there’s also grace in it.

We have an opportunity as Christ-followers to demonstrate and discuss the ways the peace of Christ sustains us during this global and communal pandemic. As I write this, there is a great debate about mask-wearing. We can and should demonstrate care for our communities by wearing them when advised by our local authorities. We are loving others and wisely submitting to authority when we lay down our own personal preferences or even liberties in order to serve and respect others.

The peace of Christ can also be demonstrated in how we speak to others about the virus and the decisions we make about how to respond to it. We can take wise steps for our families while also not perpetuating fear. We can also make the best decisions for our families while avoiding judging others for making different choices. We’re never going to agree on how to handle this crisis.

The Peace of Christ in Our Homes

The novel coronavirus has given us one gift: the gift of time. I know for some—especially those living alone—viewing time as a gift right now can be hard. There are some hard situations that are being exacerbated by this situation, and I don’t want to make light of that, either. For many of us, though, we have an opportunity to speak the peace of Christ into our loved ones.

My husband and I have three children, ages eight to fourteen. While bickering and arguing have definitely been spurred on by this gift of togetherness, there have also been many sweet moments of connection. My husband and I have both tried to spend intentional one-on-one time with each child, and we’ve figured out how to do at-home date nights. (This primarily entails telling the children to stay upstairs for a bit.)

We’ve been intentional about ensuring our children understand the risks of the virus and how to stay safe while reminding them of our hope and dependence on Christ. Our family is taking reasonably conservative steps for safety while not leaning into fear. We remind the kids that we are staying cautious partially for our sakes but also for the sakes of those with whom we interact.

I readily admit it breaks my heart when one of my children asks if they can hug a friend who is coming into our home again after a time of quarantine. However, there is a gift in that also. Prior to COVID-19, our kids took their health and safety for granted. They took hugs and in-person connections for granted. We have all been given a gift to help us reset and consider what is most important.

Moving Forward with Peace

Looking forward can be scary. We have an important election coming up. I’m not sure how it will work to ensure fairness. We finally have momentum in our country toward addressing systemic racism, but protests and continued activity create unrest. Many of us had or would like to make plans to see loved ones or to travel. There continues to be risk and uncertainty there.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (NIV). I love how he adds “And be thankful,” almost as if it’s an afterthought. Yet it also seems important that it receives its own, separate mention. It might seem inconceivable that we can be thankful this year. While there is much chaos around us, there are gifts if we simply look for and acknowledge them.

As we head into what may be a volatile winter, during which most experts expect a rise in the virus and no vaccine, my encouragement to us is this: Let us not fall prey to the negativity surrounding this virus or to the fear. May we cling fiercely to the peace of Christ and seek him for wisdom in how we lead our families through the first—and, God-willing, the last—global pandemic of our lifetimes.

Amy Wiebe is a Jesus follower, wife, mom of three, church planter, finance director, and lover of sarcasm and deep conversation with friends. She also loves camping, rafting, skiing, sewing, and having people over. Amy blogs with her husband at fringechurch.com.

Photograph © Bára Buri, used with permission