We have to find ways to beat fear with faith.  We suffer greatly when don’t.  During this COVID 19 season we are all bombarded with reasons to be afraid.  Tens of thousands of people have died.  We may not have enough hospital beds or ventilators.  Your job has been terminated.  You can’t meet up with friends at your favorite restaurant.  We were out of toilet paper for weeks.

Every single news story for over 6 weeks has been depressing.  Probably the worst part of this is that the news outlets refuse to give any silver lining to their reporting.  Even stories that pop up about a possible medicine are quickly quieted.

In reality, it has been tough.  Many people have suffered.

The other day someone asked me (Robin), “How are you and Erica moving forward in this season having a daughter with such profound special needs and vulnerability?”   I quickly said, “We are moving forward like we have for the last 18 years.”

It hasn’t always been easy.

Right after birth, the doctors told us that Kennady would not live a long life. In fact, we were told to “take her home and enjoy her” while we waited for her to die (in the next 6-12 months).  So, we did.  We went home and expected for her to die.  The biggest threats to her health are seizures, shunt malfunction, and flu/pneumonia.

For the first several years, we were quite concerned during the flu season.  One time when she was around 2 years old, she aspirated, developed pneumonia, and went into the ICU for well over a week.  We thought it was the end.  We were preparing ourselves mentally for the day when she died.  However, when Kennady was around 4 years old something shifted inside me.  I realized that I was postured for the negative.  I was praying for God to heal and change Kennady.  I wanted to avoid death and for the risk to go away.  One day while I was praying,  I clearly heard from God.  I was praying for her to change so much that I was not loving her for…. her…. for WHO she was.  I was unable to love her only as my daughter because I was so focused on her changing and being shielded from death.

From that point, I started living life like she was going to live instead die.  I started shifting my expectations of her being “normal” and decided to love her the way she was.  To use a sporting analogy, I shifted from playing only defense to playing offense.

I get the sense that most Americans are in a defensive posture right now.  We are hunkered down in fear.  We are afraid for our health, our family and friends, our economy, our schooling, our celebrations, our entertainment… the list goes on and on.

How do we shift from fear to faith?

•  Make a Decision – When Erica and I made the shift in our family years back, we made a statement that has guided us through every season:  “We are not going to let Kennady’s condition define her or our family.”   We had seen many special needs families stuck at home.  They were either afraid to go out or just too tired.  We were going to: go to church, out to eat, send Kennady to school, and go on vacations.  Our decision set a course for us.  It pushed us when we felt weak.  However, to be clear, our decision was not about us being strong.  On the contrary, it was a declaration that God defines us (not our circumstances or abilities).  This decision forced us to continually look to God… to lean on his understanding and ways.

• Be Wise – When it came to Kennady getting sick with the flu or other virus, we were going to be extremely conscious of the danger and risk.  We would be strict about washing our hands, not going around people who were sick, not going around Kennady if we were sick (we would take shifts).  I can’t remember the last time I touched a restroom door handle.  It never happens. We have carried hand cleaner around in our bags, purses, cars.  I shake hands with hundreds of people on Sunday mornings.  When I go back to my seat, I use hand cleaner to keep my hands free of junk.   We started building lifestyle habits that kept us as safe as possible.  When Jesus sent his disciples out into the danger of political pressure, violence, leprosy, and many other threats, he told them to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  (Matthew 10:16).  We have to understand that the mission doesn’t stop when we face challenge, but we reevaluate HOW we go about it.

• Understand God’s Sovereignty and Control
  – When you surrender to the power and plan of God, it takes so much pressure off of you.  As I said above, we do have some responsibility in life.  We have decisions to make.  However, that is only a small part of how things work.  This is God’s earth. He is the one that started it, had a plan for it, redeemed it, and will bring a FULL resolution someday where there will no more suffering or pain.  What we have learned with Kennady is that if it is not your time to die… you are not going to die.  If it is your time… it is your time.  I see this same principle played out in my grandmother who is 101 years old. She is currently sequestered in her nursing home with no visitors allowed.  She has lived through the roaring 20s, the great depression, the invention of indoor plumbing, television, World War II, Holocaust, Vietnam War, Kennady assassination, 9/11, the corona virus…over 10 years ago she had a debilitating stroke and has been restricted to a wheelchair… yet… she keeps ticking!  I went by her room on Friday and talked to her on the phone while looking at her through the window.   She was happy.  She only wants to see people….

Living with FAITH means releasing ourselves to God’s power and plan.  This brings us into wholeness.  We stop looking to CNN for good news and find rest in God’s ability to take something broken and make it GOOD.  We find PEACE in God’s love for us.  We know that we can keep living life, moving forward and not cowering in fear. This is wholeness.

Living in fear is living in brokenness. Living in FAITH is living life WHOLE.

Here are questions for you to ponder:

1. What kind of decision do you need to make right now?
2. How can you be wise with the threats, but still live your life?
3. Where do you face the most fear? How does the truth of God address that specific scenario?