To View the Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zeeb00xtgHo
SHOW NOTES
Hey friends! Welcome to our second episode discussing the coronavirus pandemic. At the start of the episode, Tim answers the question, “Is it okay to be afraid?” Last week we discussed Isaiah 41:10 which says, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” A listener asked if it is okay to feel fear about the situation happening in the world, despite knowing this verse to be true. Tim explains that it is completely normal to feel fear and that it's something we all feel. But when we understand that God is present and all that He will do for us, it mitigates fear in a way that suppresses despair. Kimberly suggests that when we feel fear to process that with close friends and family. Instead of holding our fear in, we should bring light to the situation, discuss it with someone close, and always go to scripture and prayer. A verse we discussed last week was Psalm 23:4 which says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Kimberly quotes Hebrews 13:5-6 which says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” When we are feeling isolated alone, it can become easy to feed fear instead of our faith. Many people are feeling alone during this time of isolation because they may live alone, they may have a sick spouse or military spouse who is away, or they may just not have many close connections. Kimberly encourages us all to wake up every day and think of a way we can feed our spirit. Whether it's listening to or reading the Bible, playing worship music throughout your home, or sitting in prayer for a period of time, find intentional ways to invite the presence of the Lord into your space daily. When you open up your heart and your home to the presence of God, He shows up every time.
Tim and Kimberly also discuss the hoarding mentality that has become an issue in the west in the last couple of weeks. As you likely know, in the midst of the panic and fear that has taken over many people’s lives, some have chosen to hoard items such as toilet paper and certain food items. This panic and hoarding stems from fear, but also from not understanding the portion of the Lord’s prayer which says, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Also Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” We don’t have to hoard and worry about tomorrow, because the Lord hasn’t given us the grace to deal with that yet.
Kimberly finishes by speaking to the parents out there who may now be in an unexpected season of homeschooling. She encourages parents to find a daily routine that works for their family. Once you get into a rhythm with your family that allows the children to know what to expect throughout the day, it makes it so much easier to breeze through the day without having children asking multiple times a day what they should do next. She also encourages parents to explain to their children what is happening in the world (if they are at an age to understand) and let them know to not fear because children are not overly susceptible to the virus.
Join Tim and Kimberly for prayer at the end of episode 60. We love you guys and will be back to our normal programming next week!
QUOTES
“When we understand that God is present and all that He will do for us, it mitigates fear in a way that suppresses despair.” -Tim
“To the degree that you acknowledge the presence of God, you will have relief.” -Tim
“Whether it's listening to or reading the Bible, playing worship music throughout your home, or sitting in prayer for a period of time, find intentional ways to invite the presence of the Lord into your space daily.” -Kimberly
REFERENCED SCRIPTURE
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
