It’s impossible to deny: the virus that everyone is talking about has taken the centre of the world stage, and it’s tempting for us to feel a sense of fear or dread about such situations that are outside our control. But as Christians, we’re called not to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). So how should we respond?
A great place to look for guidance is Psalm 91. It has a powerful message of hope for God’s family that we can read, meditate on, and pray through.
The psalmist says that as Christians, because we have made the Lord our “dwelling place,” we can look to Him for His support, protection, and guidance. Here are six powerful promises God gives to believers that will encourage us when the night seems at its darkest.
He Will Protect Us Because We Know His Name
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name” (Psalm 91:14, all Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version).
How do we know His name? Because He has revealed it to us. As Christians, we understand that the knowledge of God’s character and name only come through His divine revelation, and not by anything that we have done.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
He gave His Son because He loves us. This can give us confidence that there’s nothing that can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39), not even our doubts.
He Is Our Refuge and Fortress
“I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:2).
The writer of Psalm 91 understood that God is both our place of refuge and our protection. Do you think of God as your refuge — a safe place to hide when evil threatens? Or are you placing your hope for safety and protection from the virus in things that the world offers such as wearing a mask, stockpiling loo roll, or distancing yourself socially from others? Only God can provide us with the eternal hope and security we seek.
His Angels Guard Us
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).
It is hugely comforting to know that God’s angels — the very warrior-worshippers whom God uses throughout the Bible to strengthen people, bring important news, and who comforted Jesus after His forty days in the wilderness — those very same angels are working today, instructed by our Father in heaven to protect His people as we walk through this life.
When We Call to Him, He Answers
“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15).
God doesn’t say that we will never be in trouble. But He does promise to be with us in our trouble. When we call out to Him for help, He will answer.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and thrown into the burning furnace (Daniel 3), their strong faith showed as they spoke boldly to King Nebuchadnezzar:
“…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).
They were not only rewarded with surviving through this fiery trial, but God showed His awesome power to everyone on that day by completely protecting them:
“The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them” (Daniel 3:27).
At TBN UK we have received countless testimonies of God stepping into painful situations and answering powerfully by His grace and mercy. During these times, He even promises to give us peace beyond all understanding to help guard our minds and hearts (Philippians 4:7). How great is His mercy for us!
He Will Show Us His Salvation
“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:16).
Have you ever stood next to an older lady or gentleman while they worship? You might have sung the song a thousand times, but as you watch them sing to God through tears, you can see what this verse is talking about: God has revealed to them His salvation over decades and decades of real, gritty life. Through the good times and darker times, God has remained faithful to them and has always been there.
We Do Not Need to Fear
“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (Psalm 91:7).
Verses 3, 6, and 7 of Psalm 91 talk about pestilence, or disease. It’s clear that in biblical times people had greater cause to fear disease than we do, with our antibiotics, doctors, and the NHS. Even so, it’s easy to think about the coronavirus in the way verse 6 describes — as a disease that “stalks in darkness.” That’s the way the world — especially social media — portrays it.
But God assures us that we can trust in Him completely. We needn’t fear disease or death. We have an eternal salvation, a hope that is everlasting through Christ Jesus. It is there for all who believe!
That’s not to say we shouldn’t be sensible. In fact, when the devil quotes verse 11 of this very Psalm to Jesus in the desert, Jesus responds by rebuking him with another quote from scripture:
“Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:7).
We don’t have to test God’s favour, but instead be assured by the knowledge of it and be guided by the Holy Spirit living inside us.
Our Role: Sharing the Light
It doesn’t stop there though. There are so many lost people in the world who still live in darkness, and who don’t share the hope we have in such troubling situations. The harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37), and as Peter exhorts us:
“… always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15).
In these difficult times, don’t allow fear to isolate you and cause you to become inward-focussed, worried only about your health and safety. Now is the most important time for us to call upon God to strengthen our faith, and to look out for our neighbours to see how we can support and help them — praying that God will give us opportunities to share about His eternal hope.
Certainly, let’s pray for healing. But let’s not forget to pray for revival.
You can hear and submit your testimonies of God’s intervention in your situation on our weekly Partner Time programme, on TBN UK, every Monday at 7pm.
BEHIND THE SCENES
The TBN UK studio was filled with a capacity audience recently for the recording of our Easter specials of Praise from London. You can view the first programme with evangelist Daniel Chand and Rev. Celia Apeagyei on Good Friday at 8 p.m., and the second programme, featuring Catch the Fire London’s Stu and Chlo Glassborow, on Easter Sunday at 8 p.m..
Both specials include worship from Bright City, and will be available On Demand at watch.tbnuk.tv.
INEXPLICABLE: HOW CHRISTIANITY SPREAD TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Thu 2 April at 8 p.m., repeated Sun 5 April at 10 p.m., and Mon 6 April at 8 p.m.
Narrated by award-winning actor Dennis Haysbert and shot on location around the world, Inexplicable explores the miraculous growth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
DRIVE THRU HISTORY: ENDS OF THE EARTH
Wed 7 p.m., repeated Thu 9 a.m., Fri 5 p.m., and Sun 11:30 a.m.
Hosted by historian and filmmaker Dave Stotts, Drive Thru History takes viewers on a twenty episode global trek to every corner of the earth, to show how God has used ordinary people throughout history to take His saving grace to every nation and people.
Mon 7:30 p.m., repeated Fri 8:30 a.m., Sat 11:30 a.m., and Sun 1 p.m.
Filmed at Christ Church Chorleywood, Simon Lole, former choirmaster and organist at Salisbury Cathedral, returns for a new series telling the stories behind famous hymns and introducing some of his favourite church music.
Wed 6:30 p.m., repeated Fri 5:30 p.m., Sat 10:30 p.m., and Mon 8 a.m.
This powerful series encourages young people to walk in the authority they have through Christ Jesus and inspires them to live intentionally as God’s kingdom ambassadors. It’s not what we’ve got that makes the difference, but Who we’ve got!
PARTNERSHIP
Thank you for standing strong with TBN UK as millions face loneliness and isolation.
In times of uncertainty more individuals and families than ever are finding hope and encouragement as they tune in to TBN UK. It is your prayer and financial partnership that enable us to take the love of Jesus to every household throughout the United Kingdom.
Thank you for spreading the message of hope and salvation that exists only through our Lord Jesus Christ. I am one of those TBN UK has touched. Today I am not only a witness of the transformative effect of the message of Christ. I am, by His grace, one of the countless people God is now using to tell others about Jesus.
– John
In times of uncertainty more individuals and families than ever are finding hope and encouragement as they tune in to TBN UK.
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