Stay Calm And Carry On Worshipping

Stay Calm And Carry On Worshipping

Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:13-14

The first Ebola cases arrived in the United States amid a great deal of concern. One might even say panic. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta sent out bulletins and instructions on what people should do if they came in contact with someone who had Ebola. Protocols were implemented to prevent the spread of the disease, which had a death rate of 50 to 90 percent and no known cure.

In cities where health-care workers or visitors to the US were found to have the disease, abatement crews dressed in white hazmat suits evacuated those who lived nearby and professionally cleaned the premises and parking lots. After a death at a Texas hospital, the buildings became a ghost town. In other countries, planes were grounded and borders were closed.

As a doctor, I watched with interest as the American public seemed gripped by fear about a disease that wasn’t likely to spread or kill many people in the United States. We have an abundant supply of resources, knowledge, and one of the best health-care systems in the world. In fact, I knew that the flu, which claims thousands of lives each year, was likely to kill more people than Ebola.

Though I agree that it’s prudent to take precautions, I fear that all the media coverage of the Ebola crisis did more to cause panic than it did to save lives. We would all do well to heed the advice of Moses by standing still and watching the Lord rescue us, rather than panicking.

God has promised to protect us. That protection can come from CDC bulletins, hazmat suits, or cautious behavior. But, in every case, it comes from God. When we acknowledge that he is our protector, we won’t panic; we’ll worship.

TODAY’S RX

There will always be plagues, wars, and rumors of wars, but the Word of the Lord will stand forever.

Lord, you are and always have been mighty to save. Thank you for protecting me each day and helping me to cast my worries aside. I trust that you are in control.