If there is a God, then why is he allowing the COVID19 Pandemic?
For believers, there is no if. But why?
In Psalm 6, verse 6, we read that sinful nations were chastised. “We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.”
While reading a children’s Bible to my children years ago, one of them asked, “Why did the Israelites keep forgetting God even after he did so much for them?” The cycle of blessings, forgetting, suffering, repentance, and returned favor from God revealed a poor learning curve. I explained that humans tend to forget and wander off course over time. Who cannot look into our culture and not see that we have wandered far from God?
We cannot blame God. We are the ones who have strayed from him, not the other way around. Yet he is allowing this.
I believe that God is intimately involved in our lives, but our actions have effects. “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows,” Luke 12:6-7.
Within this pandemic is the blessing that children are largely being spared from COVID19 deaths. Imagine if they were the ones dying what this would all feel like right now. And yet, it is not just death from the virus impacting us. We are being affected by entire nations shutting down; paralyzed by a foe we can’t see or stop.
Serious prayer and fasting is needed. It is the believers that must take the first step, offering reparation and praying for a spiritual correction where God and truth begins to guide our nations. At the end of Psalm 6, verse 47, is our hope and prayer.
“Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.”
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.”
Novena Against Coronavirus
I invite you to join with PrayMoreNovenas.com to pray The Coronavirus Novena to turn to God to ask for his healing, help, and protection. If you sign up, they are sending out daily reminders starting March 20, but you can begin any time.
“We will pray for all who are affected, for all who are sick and suffering, for all those who work in the medical profession, and for those who have died as well as for their grieving family members.”
During this novena, we will pray for the intercession of these saints:
The Fourteen Holy Helpers, those who lived during the time of the plague
St. Anthony the Great, patron of those affected by infectious diseases
St. Edmund, patron for victims of pandemics
St. Damien of Molokai, who put himself at risk to minister to lepers
St. Rocco, who is venerated for his prayers for those suffering from infectious diseases
St. Joseph, patron of the dying
St. Jude and St. Rita, patrons of impossible causes
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who founded hospitals dedicated to caring for the sick
and Mary, Undoer of Knots.
You can sign up to pray with them here.
Let us join together in prayer, trusting in God and offering up our suffering that it will bear great fruit. God bless you!
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For more inspiration check out Patti’s latest book: Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Other books include: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families and the best-selling Amazing Grace Series.
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