A nagging cough had me up at 2:30 a.m. I groggily sat up, popped the umpteenth cough drop in my mouth and turned on the news to hear the latest on the Coronavirus. I listened for about thirty minutes to one alarming segment after another on one network. During a commercial break, I decided to flip to another news channel, you know, just to get a different perspective. The other station’s headlines weren’t just different—they were alarmingly contradictory to the first one. Which station is relaying the truth about the situation? Which news is reporting accurately? Is “the truth” about the Coronavirus and what we should do somewhere in the middle of the two?
Although this has hardly been the first time I’ve yearned for the true, nonpartisan state of our nation, now is a particularly critical time to get to the facts and fast. People are sick and dying, and the Coronavirus spreading throughout the world is a sobering reminder that getting to the truth can be a matter of life and death.
My husband’s grandmother used to say, “The truth will slow walk a lie out.” In other words, it may take some time, but eventually, the truth will be revealed. Truth has a way of outliving even the most compelling lies. While we can take comfort in knowing, sooner or later, the truth will rise and stand, for most of us right now, we have time sensitive issues, so getting to the truth quickly is paramount. We need to know whether to wear a mask or now, how to work without getting the virus when we’re classified as essential employees, when and how to properly social distance, and what we need or don’t need to stock our shelves. For those who may fall ill, they want to know they will have the medical resources available to help them get better. Medical personnel want to believe that they will have the necessary supplies to protect themselves from getting sick or dying, but they’re hearing mixed messages. The truth is slowly being revealed, but it comes at too great an expense when it’s too late.
We all have many choices to make in the coming weeks and months, and how we make those decisions will impact ourselves and others in impactful ways—whether we may even know it or not. Getting and knowing the truth helps us to make those decisions. Crises have a way of stripping us of our superficial ideas, people, and things and cause us to ask ourselves who we really are at our core. We may ask ourselves what we really believe in and how should we prioritize these things. Seeking and recognizing these personal truths, especially when things are chaotic, can soothe our worries and fears if we are wise.
Where can we turn in good times and bad for the truth? We should go to God’s Word. John 17:17 tell us that the “Word is truth.” This must be a non-negotiable. The Word must be our foundation and roadmap for life success.
In the God’s Word, Jesus is the truth. There are no lies in Him and His Word. Jesus speaks in John 16:13, saying that the Holy Spirit, “The Spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all truth.” When we seek answers, we must turn to the truth of God’s Word and trust that as we pray, the Holy Spirit will lead us and equip us with the wisdom to make good, sound decisions. The truth is always close when we seek it. When we’re not sure what to believe, say or do, we can be comforted in knowing that God’s Holy Spirit will direct us.
Jesus also says in John 8:32: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When we are anchored in Christ and study His Word with understanding, we aren’t in bondage by false or untrustworthy information. We are free to put all of our trust in Him, and it gives us freedom from worry, fear, and hopelessness. When we read and study the Bible, we are able to “rightly divide the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15b), which simply means we understand and apply God’s Word the way that God intends. He has given us access to the truth by our fellowship with Him. We know the truth, and it makes us free from the bondage of sin and lies.
Godly wisdom in times of crisis helps us to strengthen and stretch our faith in unimaginable ways. As we filter every obstacle, challenge, and crisis through His Word and prayer, He gives us overflowing peace, hope and endurance. When we refuse to be seduced into being fearful, hateful, untrustworthy and bitter, He enables us to recognize, give and receive love, goodness, patience, gentleness, joy, self-control, kindness, and peace.
Jesus tells us that if we “hunger and thirst after righteousness, we will be filled.” When we want truth and righteousness, He will give it to us. In these uncertain times, we must be more determined than ever to seek the truth and what’s right (righteous). When we do, we are gifted with not only a peace that passes all understanding for ourselves, but we are also able to spread it to others.
Please be safe, and know my prayers are with you
Blessings and love,
MaRita
Praises in Pink 