You may have heard the adage that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. But right now, what's going on isn't false. It is very, very real. So I am offering another acronym for fear:
Facing Evil Alone Repeatedly
As we choose to hole up and isolate ourselves from other people in order to thwart the spread of COVID-19, let us not retreat into our own fears and anxieties. Yes, it might seem nice at first to have time to read, watch TV, or do hobbies. But retreating into yourself is fodder for trouble. There is an old saying that the devil divides. Loneliness can turn our thoughts inwardly. And listening to the doom and gloom on TV all day and night can add fuel to the smoldering fires of anxiousness.
But God unites. We are meant to be a community — the Body of Christ linked together in faith and deeds.
Just because we cannot touch each other doesn't mean we can't stay in touch. Even if we cannot attend church, we can still call, text, email, or video-chat with each other. Frequently check on your friends, families, and the elderly. Today we have amazing technology that allows us to communicate. Let us use it to pray and fellowship together.
I've been calling one person per evening to chat with them on the phone the way I used to with my friends when I was a teenager. It has been fun, uplifting, and it has drawn us closer.
Will you join me in that pledge? Don't go it alone.
Lord, you said when two or three were gathered in your name you’d be there with them (Matthew 18:20). You meant for us to be in community. Remind me that I need others to bolster my hope and to minister to them as we pray together and share our faith. Amen.
Go Deeper — List three ways you can stay in touch with friends and family (who do not live with you) each day.
Photo Credit: Priscilla Dupreez