1. The courage of medical professionals and first responders. There are heroes in our midst on the front lines of an insidious battle, and they are risking their lives for the rest of us. They deserve our prayers and heartfelt thanks.
2. Spiritual blessings. No disease can rob Christians of the blessings that truly make us rich (Eph. 3:1-14). “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37-39).
3. The promises of God. It is helpful at such a time as this to remind ourselves of God’s amazing promises. Here are a few: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5); “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Ps. 91:11); “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23); “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
4. The family of God. We have some very special brothers and sisters in Christ, and they seem to rise to the occasion at times like this. When we are discouraged, they build us up (1 Thess. 5:11). When we have a need, they seem to serve “with the strength which God supplies” (1 Pet. 4:11). When we are under a load that no human being can lift, they pray to a heavenly Father “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).
5. Our heavenly home. We Christians have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). No virus can take it away from us. And when the sorrows of this life are over, God has promised his people that “he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).
