Peter Turner shares some of his thoughts about the Lord’s prayer and covid-19: This morning, I was thinking about how to pray in a general sense about the current novel coronavirus pandemic facing the entire world.
At first, I thought to ask God to kill off, remove, eliminate the virus so that we would see new cases drop and stop, and those in leadership would give the all-clear for us to get back to our ‘normal’ lives and begin repairing the economic damage. But then I remembered that God is able to bring good out of, or somehow through, the evils that come as a result of our fall, our sin, the curse, and this world’s brokenness. Perhaps it is part of His master plan — not that He caused this, but is using to His ends — that the world experience this crisis.
I am certain the world (myself included) needs to be reminded we are not in control, and we desperately need to put our faith and trust in our Creator. It is too easy to place trust in the money in my bank account, the security of my job, the almost immediate availability of anything I want or think I need. But the recent events have reminded me that these felt securities are not indeed secure. They can be removed at any moment, and I have absolutely no control over that. So, trust in God.
I recognize this is a distinctly first-world perspective. I am sure there are many the world over who have lived lives of hardship, need, hunger, and sickness. But each of us, no matter our economic position, are in desperate need of trusting our lives and livelihoods to the One who gave us life.
So then I thought to ask God to alleviate the suffering that is being caused by this virus and the measures we are taking to slow its spread. People are losing jobs, businesses, health, loved ones, and it could get much worse. But then I remembered that God often uses suffering as a means to draw us closer to Him, even to bring us to our knees in repentance. People can become Christians through suffering. It seems this world has largely forgotten about God, perhaps God can use this to wake us up to our need of Him. In that case, it is up to us who already know Him to be sharing that with as many as we can at this time. People will be looking for answers, and the answers they need are the ones God has given us in His Word. Individual suffering is often a result of collective sin, in addition to being caused by individual sin. This world is temporary. Our lives here are temporary, but our souls are eternal. God has provided a way to ensure that when the temporary is over, we are in the best place permanently. That place is with Jesus, and that way is Jesus — believe that His sacrifice was for your sins, accept the free gift, repent, and be healed.
Then how should I pray?!
Then how should I pray generally about things? The situation is too large, too complex for me to pray anything other than: “Your will be done, Lord, on earth…” and as soon as I thought those words I remembered “as it is in Heaven.” That’s from the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus taught how to pray.
When I remembered the Lord’s Prayer and COVID-19, I began thinking through the whole thing, and realizing how fitting it is for the current situation. Well of course it’s fitting, it’s the model prayer Jesus gave. Jesus, our Creator, our Savior, the perfect One!
Jesus said, “Pray like this:”
The Lord’s Prayer and COVID-19: “Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.”
This is a recognition of God’s holiness, His perfection, His sovereignty. That’s exactly what we — I need right now. At all times, but perhaps especially when things are uncertain, we need to remember God’s perfection, His control. This thing didn’t take Him by surprise. He isn’t speculating as to the effects of this. He knows. He understands. He uses it for good.
“Your kingdom come.”
At one time, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; no one will say, ‘See here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20 21 CSB). God has His people all over. We are His people, we are His kingdom. I know God wants His kingdom to grow, and how does it grow? By more people coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, being born again, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. But how will they believe unless they hear, and how will they hear without someone to tell them? It is now, maybe more than ever, the responsibility of believers to share with others the reason for the hope that is within us. People need to know that there is hope, and not just for tomorrow, but for eternity!
The Lord’s Prayer and COVID-19: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Yes, we want God to work His greatest good, His perfect will, out of all this. God wants the maximum possible number of people to be saved. I often long for the Lord’s return, but it is usually an almost selfish longing, because I want my suffering to end, and I want to enjoy the bliss of perfect eternity because I am feeling weary. But God has a different perspective. The Apostle Peter said, “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8 9 CSB). God knows best what is the time to end all the suffering of this sinful, dark, broken world. He knows what is that perfect time when the maximum possible number of people will be brought into His fold. As Christians, we pray for His will to be done, not ours. We are sure He knows best, and He has humanity’s true best interest at heart.
“Give us today our daily bread.”
How pertinent is that request! With uncertainty about the economy, the availability of goods and services, our old sense of security, the convenience of being able to run to the store for anything, has evaporated. For the most part, I’ve still been able to find what I was looking for, but the emptiness of the shelves makes a person think about worst-case scenarios. But we can trust God, not only for the big picture working of the greatest good, but also for our daily food. Through this time, God has been often reminding me of Jesus’s words “don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 CSB).Take one day at a time, and trust God to take care of you. Read Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus taught us not to worry about earthly goods, but rather to seek His kingdom, and let God provide. And I am also reminded that my definition of needs is most likely quite inflated beyond what are my actual needs. Paul said “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Timothy 6:8 CSB).I want to pursue that same restful attitude.
The Lord’s Prayer and COVID-19: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
There could be a tendency during this time to look out for ourselves, to protect our own, to build and protect our stockpiles, to save our money for ourselves, but we can apply the spirit of God’s instruction to forgive others in the same way that He forgives us — that is freely through grace, in the way we relate to others. All people, the entire world, are in this together. We are on a level field with our neighbors. This is a time for sharing, caring, and helping each other; for generosity and reaching out; and for treating others the way we want to be treated.
“And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
There is no doubt the evil one: Satan, is pleased about the suffering this virus is bringing to the world. It is his purpose to attack all that is good and godly, and he wants us to fear, to fret, to fight. But we don’t have to give in to the darkness. Our attitude and where we allow our thoughts to dwell can make a big difference to the mental and spiritual health of ourselves, and those around us. I’m asking God to help me not to fear, but to trust Him; not to fret, but to rest in His care and provision; not to fight, but to encourage and bless. I’m asking Him to help me be a better spiritual leader to my family in this uncertain time.
Certainly, my thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer and COVID-19 here are not novel. But It has been special for me to realize in a fresh way that God’s truths do not change. They are as relevant 2,000 years ago as they are today, and they will be relevant 2,000 years in the future. I have a fresh appreciation for Jesus’ wisdom, how He taught His disciples, how He teaches us. And the Spirit’s still, small, gentle voice is such a comfort.
I am remembering the words to “Because He Lives,” and finding them poignant:
God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Thank you, God, for showing me these things this morning.
by Peter Turner — April 4, 2020 (published here with his permission)
This additional reading might interest you (written by Mark Roth)
- COVID-19: Hooked by Numbers and Death Projections
- Light. Salvation. Life. Fear?
- Our Sovereign God and His People
