This is part of our series, Discipleship & the Coronavirus, featuring posts written by GABC members on what God is teaching them during the coronavirus pandemic.
You may read the entire series here.
by Paul and Lighton Otyama
As we wrote this, we had to check our calendar to remind ourselves. It had only been two weeks since we last met as a church body at GABC, or since Lighton and I had in-person interactions with work colleagues or friends. These two weeks felt like months!
How we are relating with you now, is the same way we have had to relate with family overseas for the past 2+ years, except with no fear and no concern over their health or safety, neither them about our own health and wellbeing. When things we do routinely cease to be, reflections become a powerful tool for needed comfort and a ray of hope from despair, especially when, through these reflections, we begin to see GOD’s daily grace evident in our lives.
“No Fear, No Concern”
“No fear, no concern” is such a grace when everything around us points to circumstances spiraling out of control. For us, this has been absolutely essential since physical separation from family during times like these, when a global pandemic puts life everywhere at risk, bears so heavily on the soul. Under such times, we are tempted to give in to fear and remain paralyzed or overcompensate with empty reassurances to keep ourselves or loved ones from worry.
“No fear, no concern” becomes a grace from GOD, when instead of fear or worry, we choose to trust GOD knowing there are myriads of dangers He has kept us from [through]—daily dangers we remain oblivious to only by His grace. Do you ever wonder how differently we would have lived our daily lives were we conscious of all the daily dangers that surround us? At the risk of sounding simplistic, we only need look at present times to see how that world would look like.
Remembering God
Don’t hear us wrong, social distancing is an absolute necessity for it buys us the needed time to respond appropriately to this life-threatening disease. More than that, we need only remember that GOD is in control of ALL—not us nor our governments. We choose, instead of fear, to bring our families daily before GOD in prayer. We also pray for the government of Uganda and the nation’s COVID-19 response team, that they will act in wisdom to protect citizens from this pandemic.
Instead of fear, we choose to bring our church family here in Ames, our work colleagues, and friends, the State, and Federal government before GOD, praying that GOD will keep them safe and provide lasting relief from this pandemic. We choose to ask for GOD’s healing hand over the most vulnerable in our communities, the sick in hospitals, the Doctors handling patients, and those in quarantine cells all over the globe. “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
When we begin to respond daily like this, rather than give in to fear, we find that we can continue to live life routinely and give hope to our loved ones. The same GOD who allowed our free interaction before, “with no fear, no concern,” sustains us even today, AND HE will also tomorrow.
The Peace of God
A scripture I memorized while at college, doing discipleship with the Navigators, has served me well over my 5+ years living abroad, most parts away from any family, and it serves me well even in this difficult time. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Grace and peace,
Paul & Lighton Otyama.