Faith Versus Fear – Peace In A Pandemic

Look around you – how have things changed? One year ago, most of us could have never guessed how different our lives would become. Pandemics were the things you only heard about from history books or they happened in less privileged countries, those with minimal health care and hard living conditions. The month of March 2020 introduced us to new phrases. ‘Safer at home’, ‘Essential workers’, ‘Social distancing’, ‘Flattening the curve’, and ‘Herd immunity’, suddenly became topics of discussion.
Schools have closed, jobs have been lost, businesses have gone bankrupt. People have died. The ravages of Covid 19 have touched everyone. The difficulties during the world-wide spread of the Coronavirus are unprecedented. The health care system is overwhelmed, medical personnel are physically exhausted and emotionally drained. Authority has been challenged, and some individuals have turned to violence as their fear of losing control has grown. Look around you – it is not pretty.
Yet, babies have been born, weddings have taken place, students have graduated, and the internet has provided a way for workers and schools to carry on, albeit a bit differently than before this pandemic. The world has kept turning, the sun and moon have continued as scheduled.
How are you doing? Are you living in fear of what might happen or how you might be affected? Has the sorrow of death engulfed you in grief? Are the ‘what ifs’ causing you to live in anxiety? There is an answer. It is not a religion nor is it a building. His name is God. Faith placed in the things of this world has been uprooted, shaken like a fierce storm. Perhaps it is time to place your trust on solid ground. Your fears will be replaced with peace in God’s perfect plan.

 

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.