Stability When the World Seems to Be Falling Apart

I've been struggling with anxiety over the past couple of weeks, in part for reasons I don't know, and also in part because of the growing panic of the world. Literally the world. Our state just closed all of its schools for 6 weeks, our work is having anyone with any symptoms of the flu work from home, stores are packed out and most are out of toilet paper and many household staples, people aren't allowed to gather in groups larger than 250, our church services need to be live-streamed, we can't see our grandparents, and the list goes on. 

Honestly, this is surreal and hard to accept. I don't even know how concerned to be or if I should be remaining calm or joining the hysteria. Well, I do know, I suppose, that I should be remaining calm and not joining the hysteria. Knowing this, however, doesn't make it easy to bring it to my heart and mind. 

The only stable direction I (and the world) can turn toward is up. Our Lord is in control of this situation and sees how it will play out. He commands us not to be anxious for anything but in everything by prayer and supplication -- with thanksgiving -- to let our requests be made known to Him, and His peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. (see Philippians 4:6-7) As a follower of Jesus, I want to take these words -- which are becoming even more real than they've ever been before -- to heart. 

I can rejoice because my future is sure. This broken world is temporary and isn't supposed to be easy. As I've written in past posts, hard times cause Jesus to become even sweeter. Right now, I'm struggling to appreciate this truth but am praying for grace to hold on to Jesus. Knowing Him surpasses -- or should surpass -- any amount of worldly comfort.  I am praying for the faith to cast my cares upon Him. (see 1 Peter 5:7) As I'm writing this and considering the context of 1 Peter, honestly, allowing anxiety to fester is prideful; it is not letting go and, as the cliche goes, "letting God." 

And so, with the world in a panic, I pray that we who have been saved by grace (an undeserved gift) through faith and the sacrificial blood (perfect payment for sin) of Jesus Christ may humble ourselves enough to find true peace in Him, knowing that He will see us through. 

In closing, and on a lighter note, here is a picture of Baby Ems and I, enjoying three "common grace" gifts from above: Family Time, Snow, and Spring Flowers.