“It still remains true that no justification of virtue will enable a man to be virtuous. Without the aid of trained emotions the intellect is powerless against the animal organism.” – C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man
I watched the woman pile toilet paper into her cart. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Her panic was palpable; her face a lake blown by the wind. I wanted to reassure her but in her presence I felt the stir of my own fear. So, I managed the task at hand. I said to myself, “I only need one.” So I bought one.
Social media images of empty shelves are producing gale force winds through hearts in our cities. Our emotional stability is shaken. So, what exactly are we afraid of?
We are afraid of disease. Death. Extended suffering. We are worried about the inconveniences that come with imposed quarantine. We are afraid of running out of food, money or medical insurance. If we are the owner of a small business and have employees, multiply those fears by 20!
I won’t lie. I’m scared too. But I know most of my fear is because the media told me to be afraid. But still, it seems like the world is on fire. Tornadoes in Nashville. Locusts in Africa threating starvation to millions. Pestilence in China, Italy and America. Selfish jerk-heads hoarding pandemic supplies in their garage so they can make a profit off panic. If God does exist, it feels like He’s asleep or something.
So, I shut off the feed. I turn off the television. Then I open my bible and remind myself that God is still in charge.
The prophet Jeremiah reminds me our longsuffering God is present and participating in our predicament.
“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:23-24
These verses empower me. This is the God I serve. He is powerful. Majestic. Just. Nothing escapes his perception. And right now, He is with me and for me. I have nothing to be afraid of.
But how can I be sure?
Jesus told his disciples,
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” – Matthew 24:6-8
While God’s word gives me confidence, I have to admit, I’m still afraid. I’m afraid to run out of food. I’m afraid of lost wages. I’m afraid my auto-immune impaired son will get sick and not recover. I don’t want to suffer. Nobody does. These are very real fears. So what the heck am I supposed to do with them?
This morning I ran away. I took my dogs and fled to the lake. I told God all about my fears and asked Him to comfort me and give me courage. Then, I decided to trust Him. He’s got my back. (As one of my favorite characters on Blue Bloods likes to say.) I may be marching in a war that is not of my own choosing, but my Captain will never lead me astray. He is with me and for me.
I recently read the story of George Rogers Clark and his superhuman swamp march. In early February 1778, Clark led a troop of 130 men through the freezing plains to attack the fort at Vincennes. British villain, Henry Hamilton the “hair-buyer,” was known for hiring Indians to butcher Americans and deliver the scalps to him during the bloody, Revolutionary War. Clark’s aim was surprise–for no one would suspect an attack in the winter. His small but mighty band of men crossed 200 miles of rain-soaked land on pony and on foot. Starving and freezing, the men followed Clark to an uncertain end. It seemed nigh impossible that they would attack the fort and survive to tell the tale. Clark led them with valor and seemingly superhuman strength.
“During the day’s march, Clark often gave his horse to the hunters and fell in with the men. Sometimes he swung along in silence, his big feet sloshing up and down. But he was mysteriously aware of the army’s spirit. He knew when the men were grim with weariness and when their thoughts went ahead with uncertainty and fear. At those times his ragged voice lifted a song or raised a war whoop, and gradually the other voices took it up until the whole wretched regiment sang and shouted under the desolate sky. At weary stretches of mud he set out on a lumbering run, challenging them all to a footrace. At the edge of swollen creeks he held his rifle high and lunged into the water with a savage war cry. So he kept them going; they took fire, like wet faggots, from his own nerve and will.” —from Walter Havighurst, George Rogers Clark–Soldier in the West
We have all seen the rousing footage of people singing and making music in Italy while in lock down. Can we do the same? Or has fear doused the fire in our hearts? Can we find a way to kindle it again?
The winds are blowing. We must rise to the challenge and manage our emotions. We must steady ourselves with what we know to be true, and we must fight!
Fight with hope.
Fight with joy.
Fight with song!
But most importantly, we must remind ourselves that God is sovereign, omnipotent, and cares for us. We are not forsaken. We are never alone. Dear Reader, trust Him!
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