A Pastor’s Prayer in Light of the Coronavirus

Heavenly Father,

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget [us] forever?” (Psalm 13:1).  How long must we sit under this hardship of the coronavirus?  It is stirring great difficulties among us and we are struggling to handle it well.  Some of us are deeply concerned that this will overtake us and we must be deeply vigilant, fearful and glued to the news.  Others of us don’t want to follow this narrative and chose instead to laugh at the empty shelves and buy cheap airline tickets.  How long must be waver between these two opinions.  How long must we argue about who is right?  God, none of us is able to say with full assurance and evidence that we are right.  None of can say that we see this virus and its fallout in the rearview mirror.  No, it is currently sitting in the car with us.  Today we must face it. 

But by Your word You have spoken to us.  By it You have directed our hearts.  “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3)  Your word stings us today.  It reveals a fear that is overwhelming our holy fear of You.  It reveals a trust that is deeper than our trust of You.  We feel locked into one of these two ways: one of fear of a virus or one of misplaced confidence that overestimates our true abilities to protect and save ourselves.  The Lord says again, “You shall have no other gods before me.”  We shall not fear, love or trust in anything above the Lord our God.  Forgive us for starring so intently at the coronavirus that we can’t hear your voice say to us, “take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.”  Forgive us for ignoring our frail, weak, and helpless position and saying “peace, peace” (Jeremiah 6:14) instead of “let us test and examine our ways and return to the LORD!” (Lamentations 3:40). 

Please heal our broken and misdirected hearts.  Please bring healing to those who have contracted the virus.  Please protect the vulnerable among us.  Please cast out our fears.  Please restore us in mind and heart so that we will serve our neighbors in love.  Please stir us toward a humble fear of our God so that we will not be afraid or self-reliant, but we will love our neighbors as we love ourselves. 

We fear You.  You are holy and perfect in righteousness.  We kneel before You and tremble.  We trust you.  We look upon the nail pierce hands of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We look upon the blood soaked cross that He once and for all died on…for us.  We trust You and believe because of Him we will not be put to shame.  Help us to live this way, in Jesus name, Amen!