Coronavirus and it's Purpose

I was walking down the hallway in the clinic that I work for and I had an overwhelming feeling come over me.  When it happened, I automatically felts something terrible was about to happen.  I didn't know about the coronavirus at the time or what was happening in China or Italy.  Weeks past and then I start hearing the news about the virus and how it spread in China, Italy, and all over the world.  Currently in New York City, many of my friends are quarantined in their apartments and cannot go to work.  People have lost their lives to the virus.  Many are anxious, panicking because of the virus.  Others are avoiding or pretending that it doesn't exist.  The virus is truly revealing to us what is in our hearts and it is coming out through our actions.  I have been scared.  I had some of the symptoms of the virus, but I also have been sick off and on for several months with bronchitis and respiratory infection.  So I decided to go to the doctor to be checked out.  The flu results came back negative, but the doctor said that they will let me know on Monday if I have the virus.  Ya'll, it is scary to wait for news like this after hearing on the news about people dying because of it.  The sad thing for me is that we are not taking this seriously as a nation.  People are making videos about it and coping with their own anxiety by making these videos and songs.  My concern as a human being and as a therapist is that some don't understand that avoiding the situation does not make the situation go away.  We can't crack jokes or make videos and pretend that "the corona"  does not exist.  For me, I have had to face my fears and walk through the steps of facing my fears.  By doing this, this calms my anxiety. Here's a tip, the more you run from something, the more your anxiety will increase.  When you face it head on and use coping strategies (meditation, breathing techniques) to deal with the physical symptoms of anxiety, it helps you to overcome and be ready for whatever the outcome will be.

So, this morning, after having a horrible night because I started having diarrhea (which is another symptom of the virus), I decided to face my fears.  What if I have the virus and what if I die?  These are the questions that played in my mind.  I read Ps 91:9-10 TPT version says, "When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm.  How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?"  This comforted me, but then another thought came that said, "it was God's will for his Son to die on a tree.  One died so that all would live.  What if it is God's will for you to die in order to help many other's through your death?"

I was reminded that God allows everything to happen for a purpose and for his glory.  Jesus died and went through so much pain for me, but the story did not end there.  He also rose from death so that I could have life!  If I was to die, my death would affect many people, but my name has been written in the Book of Life, so I have the hope that comes from the Holy Spirit that I will rise again when Jesus returns!  Amen!  This comforted me.

Next thought, "what if nothing is wrong with you and you live, what would you do differently?"

This thought led me to think about my dreams and the people that I want to impact with my life and the places I want to go.  If it is God's perfect will and plan for me to continue to live, I pray to live a life that impacts many.  I will create the business He has placed in my heart to do.  I will write the songs and record them so that they can help those who listen.  I will preach the messages he has placed in my heart to preach.  I will reach out to the people that he wants me to share the message of Jesus Christ with.  This is my purpose and when He says that I have fulfilled my purpose and done everything that he wanted me to do, then it would be time.  If I don't get to fulfill the purpose or never  experience the love of a man in marriage, then I am fine with that too because I have had the chance to experience the passionate love of Jesus, the man who pursued me and won me over and has shown me that he loves me completely.  I will rest with him and raise again with him into my new home.  Either way, it is a win/win situation!  

So overall, I believe that God is allowing this to happen so that we can examine our lives, how we have been living, what are we taking for granted, and how can we live lives that please Him, draws us closer to Him.  I hope this encourages you.