As a wife and a mother, I feel one of the main challenges I have faced due to the COVID-19 is anxiety. I would not usually consider myself a very anxious person. In fact, when this whole concern over COVID-19 first began circling about, I just set it aside without much worry at all. While I still prayed for other people in other countries, I just took for granted that the United States would figure a way to stop it before it ever got to this point.

However, as things have progressed, I have seen worry and anxiety creep in more regularly. I worry about my husband, being a police officer, contracting this disease. I worry about family members or even myself contracting it and passing it on to my elderly grandfather. I worry about how quarantining will affect my family if it is to happen. I think about how quick my faith can be shrunk down in light of the distraction of worrying.

When I allow my focus to go to the media and newscasts of this disease, I can see my frustration and feelings of being overwhelmed begin to take over. I tend to want to over-prepare and clean like a mad person. In fact, the last thing I want to do in these moments is stop, but I know I must. And when I do stop, it puts my focus back into perspective. I am reminded of just how great a Father I have. I pray to him to increase my faith and cease these worries from my mind.

Through this prayer time, my desire for the Word wells up. I have read through Psalm 46 so many times during this COVID-19 pandemic. The psalm has reminded me that God is my only strength and refuge. Also, reading through Job has reminded me that none of this can happen without God’s approval. In Paul’s writings in Romans, I am reminded that all things, good and bad, work together for the good of those who love Him. Whatever the result of this pandemic, I know that God can stop it if He chooses to do so. If His plan is not to stop it, I must just trust Him during this time. He knows what is best for me and He loves me. His plan is not to harm me, but to bring Him glory. As a child of God, my desire is to bring Him glory. Therefore, I must continue to trust in His truths and obey His Word.

So my encouragement to all my fellow sisters and brothers and myself is to not be anxious in this time, but to put our focus back on God through the reading of His Word and prayer and to trust in our Father’s sovereignty.