COVID-19 And Prayer

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8 (New International Version)

Our world is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. A few months ago, what started as a health concern for those living in China, is now a global public health emergency. Sports leagues have canceled their seasons, schools have closed, and people have lost their jobs as more and more communities go into lock-down. The economy is teetering towards recession as investors and companies scale back on spending and services. Panicked shoppers have emptied supermarket shelves of necessities like paper towels and toilet paper. And we have been introduced to the new practices of social distancing and sheltering at home.

For those who have contracted COVID-19, it must be a very difficult time. Not only must they deal with the physical symptoms of the virus, but they must also live with the fear they may have passed it on to their family or friends. For the rest of us, trying to avoid being infected has brought significant disruptions to our lives. With no hope of a vaccine being developed in the next several months, these are uncertain and worrying times.

Recently, I found myself thinking about how my faith should influence my life during this pandemic. I have felt the weight of worry creeping in when inundated with news reports of infection rates, death statistics, and new lock-down guidelines. However, I gained some enlightenment during a recent time of meditation on the Lord’s Prayer. I do not believe the Lord’s Prayer is to be only recited verbatim. It seems more plausible Jesus was teaching His disciples a pattern or model for prayer: “…pray like this…” (Matthew 6:9) and pray this. As I meditated on this portion of Scripture, the relevance of the Lord’s Prayer became striking. It can be applied to every circumstance of life, whether I am living a crisis-free existence or I am in the throes of a global pandemic. Let us look at Matthew 6:9-13.

9 Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. During this crisis, God does not cease to be God and remains worthy of our worship. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. During this crisis, the fulfillment of God’s Will remains paramount. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. During this crisis, when supermarket shelves are bare, and we need something as basic as toilet paper, we can depend on God to supply our daily necessities. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. During this crisis, people will act and react in unacceptable ways. Under the weight of worry, we will act and react in unacceptable ways. We must be ready to ask for and offer forgiveness. 13 And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. During this crisis, spiritual warfare is heightened. The enemy will be like a roaring lion seeking to devour us. We must look to God for deliverance. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. During this crisis, even though the world might seem out of control with no one having the right answers or solutions, God never runs out of power. His Hands remain firmly on the wheel of His Sovereignty.

I know many people are afraid and worried. When they are repeatedly bombarded with news that paints such dire circumstances, how can we not be? The best solution is to be grounded in Someone and something that is greater than our current events. Prayer allows us to do that by keeping our lives in the Divine perspective. It helps us find solutions to living in this world without being destroyed by it. Prayer reminds us that there is always hope beyond the limitations of governments, science, financial markets, and even supermarkets. Our Father in heaven remains just a prayer away from us. Cover Photo by Brian McGowan on Unsplash