“...He alone is my refuge, my place of safety, he is my God, and I trust him." - Psalm 91:2 (NLT)
Using this scripture, we encourage people not to fall prey to the fear and hysteria being shared on Social Media during the COVID-19 crisis.
As someone who has served in the Pastoral Counseling arena for over 40 years, I have found great support in understanding and meditating on the Serenity Prayer used by most Twelve Step Recovery Groups throughout the world. The intention of the Serenity Prayer is to bring peace, faith, and certainty to the mind and heart of those seeking God’s support in difficult times.
This well-known version was published in 1951 with the addition of the word “grace.” This full version reads:
God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
Here are a few supportive principles from the Serenity Prayer that will help you remain strong in your faith during the present COVID-19 Pandemic crisis.
1. God will direct my steps - God’s sovereignty and providence controls a person’s paths, steps, and directions. You must accept that God’s in control and let His peace settle into your heart and mind.
2. There are some things I cannot change - During times of uncertainty, we must trust God. He always has been and always will be sovereign over human history and our lives.
3. I need God’s help to discern the present - Although, we may not understand completely what God is doing in our lives, our faith in God and his sovereign care helps us to resist panic, knowing that our days are in the Lord’s hand.
4. The power to overcome my trials comes from God - Any person living in fear and panic may believe the lie that their circumstances are hopeless. Our job is to “Cast our care on Him” daily and let Him be the unshakable source of strength we need.
5. I must surrender to God’s purpose in the season of storms - Our hope for the future rests not in fully stocked shelves of food and toilet paper, but in the power of Christ, who will make our future secure when we surrender our hearts daily.
Soak and Reflect
1) Use the Serenity Prayer for strength in the current COVID-19 Crisis?
2) Which of the five points can you begin to put into practice today?
