How To Have Peace, Hope And Joy During Covid-19

The coronavirus has changed the way we live our daily lives and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon. Our schedules have changed, our priorities have shifted, we’ve got more time to ourselves, with the family and we’ve been introduced to this new concept called social distancing.

When change is sudden like this it’s easy to wonder if things will ever get back to normal, especially if you tend to not like change. It’s easy to panic and wonder what will happen to your job, your family, your favorite sports team and even your savings or stock account.

It’s times like these when we need something greater than ourselves. We need something that goes beyond our own capabilities and thought process. Somewhere to run where we can find comfort and understanding in the middle of a pandemic.

Where can we find peace, hope and joy in the midst of a literal pandemic? The answer is JESUS. True peace, hope and joy that will last is found only in Jesus, our God of hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV)

Joy

Jesus is the true source of infinite joy for our hearts. Only Jesus will completely satisfy our deepest longing. The joy that Jesus has for us is far greater than any kind of temporary joy we’ll find on earth that won’t weather a storm. But the joy Jesus has is greater than any anxiety we may encounter in this adventure we call life.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19 NIV)

What’s your anxiety? The kids are home and you don’t know what to do with them for 12 hours a day? You received a note from your boss that says you aren’t essential right now so you have to go home home without pay? You don’t know when your school will go back so you can get those credits you need to finish school?

When our anxieties are great, which they are in times like these… it’s only Jesus that can insert joy in it’s purest form into our heart. Psalm 94:19 says “your consolation brought me joy” which means when we get with the father what we’ll get filled with is joy.

Peace

Jesus has always had peace. He’s never lacked peace at all, it’s us that lacks peace it’s just taken a pandemic to show us our lack of peace. We tend to put our peace in things that don’t sustain it and when something like a pandemic strikes we lose it.

Jesus is filled with peace and he is offering it to us all we have to do is ask him for it in the time we spend with him. The best way to do this is daily set aside quiet times asking Jesus to fill you with the peace that you lack and let him move in you.

Set a side some time during the day to have a daily time with Jesus and have what I call a quiet time. Even if it’s just five to ten minutes a day that you are spending with Jesus that is better than nothing. If five to ten minutes is what you do than that is perfect!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

In Jesus there is peace to be found that will last through any storm that will come our way. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is what he’s offering to you… the power of peace is offered to us. Tell Jesus your thoughts, read scripture and listen to what he is trying to say to you.

Hope

Jesus is full of hope even when I don’t have hope. That’s who he is and what he offers us. He offers hope in the middle of crisis and even when things are going well. I like to think of it like this: a room can still be somewhat dark with the blinds closed but light still finds it’s way in through the small cracks and crevices of the blinds and lights up the room. That’s what Jesus’ hope is like for us, breaking through the cracks of darkness when darkness seems that it’s filled the room.

Romans 15:13 says “may the God of hope fill you with hope” which means Jesus is the God of hope! He has it and he can make life a little lighter when it seems dark. He can help us see just because everything around us seems dead that he’s not done!

One of the ways I set my heart on the hope I know Jesus has for me is by listening and signing worship songs. When I get a good worship going I can’t help but smile and feel the love and hope that Jesus has for me. You may have some worship songs that you like to listen to as well which is awesome! But maybe you are the person that would say “when I listen to those lyrics I don’t feel anything happening” and I would say that is OK.

When singing the lyrics you may not feel your faith stirring at first, know that nothing is wrong with that and Jesus doesn’t love you any less because of it. I want to encourage you to keep listening to worship songs even though you don’t feel the faith stirring because the more you sing worship songs the faith and feelings will start to happen. It’ll start to arise in you but the hard part is starting somewhere. Below I’ve laid out a playlist I have that I’ve been listening to almost daily during this difficult season. Try these songs out and may they bless you.

I hope you enjoyed this article! Stay updated on the latest information from local officials and stay positive. Have quiet times and depend on Jesus for joy, peace and hope during these difficult times. The beauty is, we don’t have to have all the answers as long as we are trusting Jesus.