Simple Equations in a Time of Crisis

Across the world, many people have died from the Coronavirus, Covid-19, or the Chinese virus, as Trump calls it. The speed at which this disease (or bioweapon) has spread, has helped create panic. It’s hard not to feel fearful when the grocery store has great swathes of empty shelves, and one wonders what to do when and if those shelves are not restocked. Most Americans are not used to hunger and lack. This surely is a time to re-read Psalm 91.

This virus has one thing in common with the events of September 11, 2001: It once again shatters the illusion of American security. The difference is that on 9/11, the vast majority of Americans observed the events, which were localized to three circumscribed geographic areas. Most people were not directly affected, except for the short-term travel restrictions. Now, the breach in our life-as-usual security has directly affected every individual in this country. We are shocked at the speed at which ordinary life came to an unprecedented halt, not only here, but the world over.

Aside from the danger of falling ill in this crisis, the looming specter of economic disaster has arisen for small businesses and large, and for those who have lost their livelihood. This creates another equally contagious virus—the virus of Fear and Panic, the worst of all. The equation looks like this:

Lack of Security = Fear

This leads to all kinds of evils, such as people fighting each other over bottled water and toilet paper. Me first, and my neighbor be damned. But the uncomfortable lesson of September 11th and the Corona virus is this: earthly security is an illusion. In truth, there is no real security—except in God. He is our only security, no matter what happens on the earthly plane. He is our provider, not Walmart or H-E-B. Therefore:

Lack of Security = No Lack at All

Why? Because God is in control.

God = Security in All Times, All Places, and All Circumstances

Perhaps this enforced time away from what we see as our “normal” lives can be a reset. When my phone malfunctions, I can take the battery out for a short time and reinsert it. Problem resolved. Maybe this time is for our people and our nation to turn back to God or learn to know Him for the first time. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate our lives, our relationships, our priorities.

Traditionally, Americans have been independent people, free-thinkers, unafraid of hard work, generous and sympathetic toward others. From the very beginnings of this constitutional republic, we have also honored the God who made us. If there ever was a time to do that, it is now.

Let us employ our generosity to help our neighbors, our ingenuity to find a cure, and our fiercely independent natures to face an uncertain future unafraid. Let us throw off the spirit of fear, which never comes from the Lord. Let us employ the unlimited power of prayer against this virus. Let us pray also against the corrupt ones in high places in our country who would use this crisis to implement their subversive agenda. May we never be so deceived as to trade our freedoms for the false promises of government security.

According to Psalm 91, we already have our own.