COVID-19: Fight Fear
I hesitated adding yet another thing out there having anything remotely related to COVID-19. Quite honestly I’m exhausted and overwhelmed with reading and hearing about it everywhere I look.
That being said, I do feel like God compelled me to provide resources for those who may need some extra encouragement to fight fear or who may need more reassurance and comfort. Just because I’m not struggling does not mean that others aren’t. Additionally, it would be nice to see some positive, encouraging, faith-related information out there to counterbalance and fight fear and panic inducing media that’s being shoved down our throats everywhere we turn.
Today, I’d like to provide you with some practical steps, encouragement, reminders, helpful scriptures, helpful posts/articles, and some faith and hope building resources to support you and help you fight fear during this volatile time in our world.
First and foremost: God is still God, and He can turn bad into good
God can take something bad, something evil, something the devil uses for harm and turn it into something good. God can turn the tables on our enemy. No matter how bleak things may look in our world right now, God can and will still work through this and in spite of this crisis.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
“You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened.” Genesis 50:20 (GNT)
Read this helpful post:
Getting Through a Tough Time and Coming Out Better On the Other Side
God is immutable—He will not change
With things shifting all around us and updates and news changing from day to day, it’s important to remember that God is a constant. He will not change. He is stable and can be leaned on and trusted. God is a place of refuge, a fortress. He is our rock.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2 (NLT)
Read these helpful posts:
The Name of Jesus Gives Us an Elevated Position
Look for the light and be a light
It seems like darkness is all around us, but if you look, you’ll see goodness too. Fix your thoughts on that! Notice the lights around you. BE the light around you! Light overcomes the darkness. What’s one way you can be a light today?
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (NIV)
I recently started following two Instagram accounts that I absolutely love. They ONLY focus on spreading and showing good, positive news. It’s quite a refreshing change of pace.
Read this helpful post:
Be strong and courageous—Do not fear!!
Fear does not come from God. Fight fear with faith! Be strong and courageous! Fear not! These were consistent commands throughout scripture.
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!” Psalm 31:24 (NLT)
“Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” Psalm 27:14 (BSB)
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)
“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.” Isaiah 41:10 (AMPC)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
“The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalm 27:1 (NLT)
I received an email a few days ago from Terri Savelle Foy with some powerful reminders to fight fear. Here is what she said:
“Yes, you should use common sense to stay healthy and do your part to not actively spread the virus (particularly to the elderly), but there is something much bigger taking place.
I read an article this week where a doctor said that “FEAR” is spreading faster than the Coronavirus and causing more damage.
Know this: fear does not come from God.
Fear is a tool of the devil designed to wreak havoc in the lives of those who will submit to it.
I’m encouraging you to rise up and take a stand against the panic and hysteria (the fear) that so many others are bowing to.
As my friend and partner in ministry I want to remind you of a few things.
Faith is your shield.
Ephesians 6 says that you have a shield of faith to protect you from the enemy’s attacks. This shield of protection stays strong when your faith is strong.
Remember this: Satan works through fear just like God works through faith. Just as faith is needed to activate God’s power in your life; fear is needed in order to activate Satan’s power in your life.
Look at what Job 3:25 says, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
Lester Sumrall said, “Starve your doubts and feed your faith.” How do you do that?
We feed our faith by taking purposeful steps to hear God’s Word more than the other voices bombarding our minds. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
When feelings of fear, anxiety, worry and torment start to rise up in you, declare God’s Word. Because when faith comes, fear has to go.”[1]
Watch these helpful video messages:
Terri Savelle Foy short video clip (5:27 min.)
Rick Renner short video clip (1:46 min.)
Read these helpful posts on how to fight fear and getting through troubling times:
How to Overcome Insecurity Caused by Fear-Part 1
How to Overcome Insecurity Caused by Fear Part 2
Be Like Palm Trees Through Life’s Storms
10 Ways to Get Through a Hard Time
Scriptures for Troubling Times
Scriptures for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Getting Through a Tough Time and Coming Out Better On the Other Side
Keep Your Eyes and Focus on Jesus
When Things Are Going Wrong…God Still Has Your Back
Read this helpful article:
Talking With Kids About The Coronavirus from Focus on the Family
Read, remember, confess Psalm 91 to fight fear
“1Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2This I declare about the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9If you make the LORD your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:1-16 (NLT)
Watch your intake and feed yourself faith and hope building messages and praise
It’s extremely important for your emotional and mental well-being to watch and limit your intake of negative media and news. Some great advice I’ve heard is to listen to faith building messages MORE than you’re listening to the news. Read MORE faith and hope installing blogs, articles, and social media posts than the COVID-19 alternatives. READ YOUR BIBLE! Consume more faith than fear. Check for resources from your church for podcasts, videos or sermon messages to help build your faith and hope.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (ESV)
Watch these helpful video messages:
My church has put together a YouTube playlist from past teaching series centered on hope, faith, and wisdom to help you “GET YOUR HOPES UP!”
Listen to these helpful songs and playlists:
Keep Your Hopes Up! Spotify Playlist by COTMProd BA
The Blessing (by Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes)
Pray, both individually and corporately
Prayer is a powerful weapon. We need to be in constant prayer during times of physical and spiritual battles, and this is definitely a season that our world is in right now.
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) **Note: Prayer is listed with the Armor of God (i.e. a weapon) in Ephesians 6:10-18
“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (CEV)
We need to stand up and take authority over the attacks coming against us! God has given us authority and power over the enemy. When we are submitted to God and resist the devil, he has to flee. God has made us overcomers!
“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” Luke 10:19 (NLT)
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NIV)
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18 (NIV)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (ESV)
Participate in corporate prayer (most likely virtually at this juncture). Check with your local church about virtual prayer sessions, Zoom or Skype sessions, conference calls, or just planned days/times to all gather corporately to agree together in prayer. If your local church doesn’t have anything planned, plan your own!
**Feel free to join my church if you want as well. We are joining for Daily Prayer at COTM.live at 9:00am, Noon, and 6:00pm CST.
I’ll also include here a guided prayer sheet put together by Moms in Prayer for the National Call to Prayer that was on March 15, 2020. This is an excellent resource that we can continue to use over the course of the next several weeks.
Read these helpful posts:
What are the benefits of corporate prayer?
Even if this post hasn’t been helpful for you, please consider sharing it with others who might be struggling and need some resources to help them. Prayerfully consider someone who might need this.
How have you been able to fight fear during the COVID-19 hysteria? Share your ideas and encouragement to help others by leaving a comment below!
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, or off-topic. By posting on this site you agree to my Comment Policy.
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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
- “Important Message Concerning Coronavirus.” Received by Terri Savelle Foy, Important Message Concerning Coronavirus, 12 Mar. 2020. ↑
