It is times like this that thoughts go out to the members of our families and others we know and love. I have just heard that my sister is in bed with the virus, and a friend’s granddaughter (a very young baby) has also been diagnosed. Our natural reaction is to worry, to allow our concern for others to start a monologue running in our head, “What if…, what if…, what if…”. This can tie us up in knots and is of no benefit to those we are worrying about. But what else can we do?
There is an alternative to just sitting and worrying: prayer. Jesus gave us some advice: “Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) Prayer can be a private conversation between you and God. As well as tapping into the power of God, you will find that a peace will enter your heart.
This is not a matter of having positive thoughts, or some kind of mind over matter. The last thing we need at times like this is wishful thinking or pseudo-science. We need the definite actions that our politicians, scientists and doctors are urging on us; but we also need to bring our concerns before the one who does have the power of life and death. He listens and he speaks to us as he did to Elijah in the Bible in a ‘still, small, voice’ (1 Kings 19:12). Sometimes as we pray he gives us the assurance that he has heard our cry, and is on the case.
So let’s join our voices with billions of people around the world to call on the name of Jesus in prayer for those we love.