When COVID-19 first became a grim reality and most of the world, include the small burg where I live, was shut down, my husband and I prayed for this to be soon over. While I am sure that we were not the only praying for the same result, my husband felt led by God to pray not only for all of this pandemic to be soon over, but also, and more importantly, that God would be glorified throughout all of this chaos. While the coronavirus was affecting lives, some more than others, his prayer became, “God may Your Name be lifted up. May You be glorified through all of this.”
Now while COVD-19 and all the associated discomfort came as a surprise to most, if not all people, God was not surprised. He has allowed this to occur for some reason. Or possibly several reasons that we mere mortals cannot understand. Since God is in control and He allowed this virus, let us seek to give Him glory during this time. Here are some ways you can give God the glory, even when you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation. 
Boost Your Immune System
While this may not seem to be a spiritual exercise, taking care of your physical body — the one that God gave to you to glorify Him — is important, especially when confronted with the threat of a virus. While I am neither a doctor nor a natural health expert, there are various steps you can take to boost your immune system even against the coronavirus. Research those and implement one or more. Although there are no guarantees that you will be totally able to avoid being infecting by COVID-19, improving your health will make you feel better. When you are physically comprised, it is far easier to be spiritually and mentally compromised, too. The Apostle Paul, writing to believers in 1 Corinthians 10:31, said, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Pray
While prayer should be a part of your daily routine, now more than ever you need to pray daily. Pray that God would heal those affected by the virus; for comfort to the families who have lost loved ones; protection for hospital workers; safety for those who are still working during the pandemic; and wisdom for all government officials. Also, pray for your pastor and your church leaders and the members of your church. Even though your church may not be open for the time being, the spiritual and emotional needs people have do not stop. One of my friends organizes video prayer meetings based on God’s promise found in Matthew 15:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Read the Bible
Reading the Bible should also be a part of your daily routine, but in times of unrest seek to find promises from God in Scripture and hold on to them. Memorize precious promises from Scripture, the ones that speak to you personally, write them down and display them in a prominent place so that you can be reminded of them daily. Meditate on these scriptures, so that when faced with fear in uncertain times, you can quickly reach into your mind, glance on your computer screen, the dashboard of your car, or your refrigerator door, to be reminded of God’s love for you. God wants us to have peace. Jesus said in John 16:33b “In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
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Eliminate News
It seems that the news media would like nothing else than to promote a state of fear. The media is filled with reports of sickness, death, panic, food shortages, and other troubling stories. It is so very easy to become depressed when there is so much negativity being spilled into the airways and on the printed page. It seems that instead of reporting objective news, journalists strive, and many times succeed, to promote fear along with factual news reports. To combat this, consider limiting your news intake. If something does not make you laugh, entertain you, or teach you something valuable, skip it. 2 Timothy 1:7 assures us “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Start Something New
If you have some extra downtime now because of limited activities, use this time wisely. Is there something that you would like to do but felt that you never had the time? Perhaps you want to write a book of your original poems, or maybe compile a cookbook. Perhaps you always wanted to learn how to knit or just clean out your closet. Maybe you have an idea to create an app, or even explore an idea for an invention. Now may be the time to start. If God gave you that desire, start it now. Your project may or may not be totally completed by the time this pandemic is over, but starting it now will help you reach your goal of accomplishing it. God tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:10a “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
Write A Letter
In this time of e-communication, video chats, social media, phone calls, and texts, a handwritten, snail-mailed letter has become a sweet rarity. Writing a letter to someone you know in a nursing home is a great way to glorify God. This is an easy activity, and if you have children, you can involve them, too. Mailing pieces of your children’s artwork and a few Scripture verses that you have found comforting to a lonely, elderly person would lift their spirits, bring a smile to their face, and joy to their heart. The Apostle Paul was a great letter writer who wrote in Galatians 6:11 “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”
When this COVID pandemic first hit our country, I prayed and asked God that He would use this crisis for our personal benefit, trusting the promise of Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” May this be true in both you and your family’s lives, too, so that this time of trouble will become a blessing in disguise.
Mary Jane Humes
Mary Jane Humes lives in Pennsylvania and is happily married to her wonderful husband, Joseph. She is working toward releasing four 30-day devotionals for Christian women by the end of summer 2020. You can read her blog or connect with her on Facebook.
