On Saturday, December 26, I became ill with what Jeana and I suspected was COVID-19. Due to the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville and the technical challenges caused by it, the testing sites near us were closed. When I was able to be tested, the diagnosis was clear: I was positive for COVID-19.
While that first day brought my worst symptoms and a few days following have been challenging, it has been nothing like so many others have experienced. By God’s grace alone, I have felt blessed each day as God has seen me through. Thankfully, Jeana has remained negative and we are grateful God has preserved her thus far from this virus.
With the personal diagnosis of COVID-19 and the horrible, lonely deaths of so many reported everywhere, I have to admit this had a real effect on me. We were already spending Christmas away from our family and I had spent months being careful; yet, here I was, facing the uncertainty of this illness.
During the nights when sleep was restless and each morning in the Word of God and prayer, God brought to my mind one of the very first Bible verses my mom taught me when I was little boy. One night when I was fearful, she taught me, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Psalm 56:3 (KJV).
This global pandemic has reminded us again and again that we need God more than ever before, and we need each other more than ever before. Over these past few days, I have sensed this deeply and know it more personally. Fear of the unknown has been real, but God has seen me through.
This phrase kept coming to mind during my days at home: Fear not the future, God is already there.
There are many uncertainties each of us face personally—in our families, in our churches, and in our nation and world. We are grasping each day for anything certain; but, in reality, we can only anchor our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible, the Word of the Living God.
I enter 2021 with hope, as I am sure each of you do. My hope rests in Jesus Christ, and I know that no matter what happens in our world, I can trust in Him when I am afraid, when I am joyful, and when I am uncertain. I can look forward to tomorrow because I know He already holds it in His hands.
Whatever we face in the days to come, may we remember: Fear not the future, God is already there.
“…The Lord is going before you and the Lord God of Israel is your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12.
Now is the time to lead.
This article was written by Dr. Ronnie Floyd and was originally sent through the Baptist Press newsletter, which can be found here.