Sprachen 
A virus is
currently keeping the whole world under its spell, everyone is talking about
it, the media is bringing new reports every hour. The disease has spread from
China and has now reached us. More and more infected people are coming.
What spreads with this virus is mostly worry, fear, and terror and I think that is much worse than
the virus itself. The danger is not the virus, but the panic of the people that
it creates. Food is being hoarded because of fear, and the supermarket shelves
are partly empty. Protective masks and disinfectants are bought in huge
quantities. The whole thing is being fueled by the media and, in my opinion,
presented much worse than it actually is. Those who regularly follow the news
can easily get into fear and scare. I doubt whether everything is true.
Politicians take all possible measures to curb the spread of the disease:
schools, kindergartens, childcare facilities are closed, public events are canceled,
safety measures are adopted. There is a lot that makes sense to protect the
population, especially the sick and the elderly. I think it’s good for us to be
careful and attentive and to abide by the rules, but we shouldn’t let the panic
and fear infect us.
As an example, the situation here in South Tyrol. Last Thursday, South Tyrol
was classified by the Robert Koch Institute as an endangered zone, due to the
fact that there were only two cases of two tourists reported to have been
infected in this country. This message was then widely distributed in the
newspapers, so that it will certainly cause great economic damage, especially
tourism will be affected.
On one of the worst days since the outbreak of the corona virus, February 10,
108 people died in China from the disease. Of course, that’s terrible.
But … on the same day …
63,000 unborn lives were aborted, over 26,000 people died of cancer,
24,000 of heart diseases,
Approx. 2200 people committed suicide on this day.
Approx. 3,600 people were murdered and 2,300 killed by a mosquito bite.
And about 3500 people died that day from excessive alcohol consumption. You
could go on with the list, just think of the many people who die of hunger and
need, countless people who die of wars, accidents, etc.
In addition, it must be said that 95% of those affected have recovered and the
course of the disease is harmless, with symptoms of runny nose and fever.
People who die by the virus usually have a weakened immune system due to an
existing disease. People also die from normal influenza every year.
The danger posed by the corona virus has so far been unrelated. Of course, we
all do not know how the situation will develop in the future and that is
exactly what I think creates uncertainty.
Fear of the unknown
Fear of losing control
Fear of illness
Fear of death
What can be observed is firstly the impotence of man, that man, as he often
thinks, cannot control everything and have everything under control and how
quickly he can lose the ground under his feet and his security and secondly
also selfishness and the greed of people, for example when I read that
disinfectants and respirators are stolen in hospitals and thus put people at
risk of life who are then without these life-saving utensils.
What does the situation do to me, what
helps me to keep calm?
I can say that a few years ago I would certainly
have reacted to such a situation with fear. I would have been worried and would
certainly have been influenced by the media and scare mongering among people.
Today, faith in God gives me the opportunity to react to it differently and to
deal with it differently. I look less at what is happening around me and the
circumstances, and instead I focus on Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today
and forever. I have not yet stored any food supplies at home, have not yet
bought respiratory masks and I also go out with people without hesitation.
I do not fear. Worries or fears don’t help me.
“Can all your worries add a single moment to
your life? No “Matthew 6.25
I feel safe because I know I am in his
hand no matter what. It is my protection and my shield. I know I have nothing
under control, but I trust him and want to rely on his promises to speak his
word about my life. What I say has power in my life, thoughts and words are
powerful, they can cause life or death. Thoughts of worry and fear will
paralyze me, make me sick, prevent life. Thoughts of confidence and faith will
strengthen, encourage and bring me life.
“Words have power: you can choose between life and
death” Proverbs 18:21
What can I do personally against the spread of the
corona virus? I can pray, maintain a healthy lifestyle (diet-exercise-drink a
lot) to strengthen my immune system, follow governmental precautions, and live
a fear-free, stress-free life. I can overcome my fear through trust in God.
Christ says: You are afraid in the world;
but be confident, I have overcome the world. John 16.33
Jesus says very clearly: We will experience
situations that put us in fear, but we do not have to remain in fear but look
at him who has overcome the world. With him I also become an overcomer. With
him I’m on the winning side. The deeper my relationship with him, the less fear
I have, because his love makes all fears disappear.
God’s perfect love dispels fear
“Fear is not in love, but perfect love drives
fear out” 1 John 4:18
“So what could separate us from Christ and
his love? Suffering and fear perhaps? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger or
violent death? ”Romans 8.35
“Because I am quite certain: Neither death nor
life, neither angels nor demons [, neither present nor future nor any powers,
neither high nor low or anything else in the world can separate us from the
love of God, which he gives us in Jesus Christ our Lord. ”Romans 8: 38-39
Fear never comes from God, but always from the
enemy, God’s adversary. He comes to rob us and destroy what God wants to give
us. He is a liar from the start, the Bible says he is the father of lies.
“He was a murderer from the start and always hated
the truth. There is no truth in it. If he lies, it corresponds to his nature,
because he is a liar and the father of lies. “John 8.44
I don´t want to see and hear the news of the
world, so I get enough with the fact that I spend a lot of time on social
media. I don’t want to be flooded with negative headlines that don’t do me
good. I prefer to deal with the truth that is in the Word of God. I can use the
Word of God in this situation for myself. His word is alive and speaks to me.
Where there is uncertainty and unrest around me, I can experience peace, a
peace that the world does not know because I believe his word when he speaks:
“I’m leaving you a present – my peace. And the
peace that I give is not like the peace that the world gives. So don’t worry
and don’t be afraid. “John 14:27
I can unload everything that worries me to him. He carried everything for
me on the cross so that I could be free.
My daily prayer against the corona virus is Psalm 91:
“Those who live under the protection of the highest find peace in the shadow of
the Almighty. He said to the Lord: You are my refuge and my castle, my God,
whom I trust. Because he will protect you from all dangers and protect you in
dire straits. He will cover you with his wings and you will find refuge with
him. His loyalty protects you like a big shield. Do not be afraid of the
attacks at night and do not be afraid of the dangers of the day, of the plague
that lurks in the dark, of the plague that strikes you on bright day. If thousands
die next to you, if tens of thousands fall around you, nothing can happen to
you. You will see it with your own eyes, you will see how God punishes the
wicked. If the Lord is your refuge, if you seek the highest protection, then
evil will not harm you and no misfortune will reach your house. Because he
commands his angels to protect you wherever you go. They carry you on hands so
that you don’t hit your foot against a stone. You will trample lions and
venomous snakes, you will trample wild lions and serpents with your feet! The Lord says: »I want to save the one who loves me. I
want to protect the one who trusts my name. When he calls to me, I want to
answer. I want to help him in need and save and honor him. I want to give him a
long life and let him get my help. “”
I am quite sure that God protects his children.
That is why we need not be afraid and not to worry.
“So don’t worry and don’t ask, ‘Will we have enough to eat? And what are
we going to drink? What should we wear? ‹Only people who do not know God can be
determined by such things. Your Heavenly Father knows that you need all of this
”Matthew 6: 31-32 In this uncertain time, as believing
Christians, we can be a witness to faith and confidence, brin hope and make
people around us aware that there is a God who holds the whole world in his
hands.
