Fear Is a Liar

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

Psalm 56:3

I love this song by Zach Williams.  It says…….
“Fear he is a liar, he’ll take your breath, stop you in your steps. Fear he is a liar, he’ll rob your rest, steal your happiness… Cast your fears in the fire because fear is a liar.”  

It seems the most common item I’ve seen people carry lately is hand sanitizer… what once might have been seen as a product for the (slightly) paranoid is now becoming the must-have accessory of the season.

There is a lot of fear going around about coronavirus.  Our family is anxious because I have two procedures and chemo starting on Tuesday.  There is a lot of fear that hospitals will have other patients and not able to see me, and a big fear that treatment might be delayed. 

Now, have the doctors said any of this – no – it is just a fear I have.  I do know that I will have a compromised immune system after the first treatment, but I can’t even worry about that now with everything else in the next few days that needs to happen.  I have felt a lot of fear during all of this, but I know when I claim it and give it over to God, He gives me peace.  

So, don’t let fear rule you during this pandemic.  Stock up all the things you need, do all the things the CDC is saying to do, self-quarantine when needed, stay away from large crowds, and wash those hands all the time!  Do all this, but don’t let mindless fear dictate what or why you are doing it.   

This is a time when we as Christians need to be called to prayer.  Pray for safety, pray for the scientists and medical teams who are working round the clock to keep this under control, pray for those affected – that they will receive the treatment they need.  Pray for students and parents who are home for weeks.  Pray for college students who don’t know when they are returning to their schools. Pray for wisdom for our leaders as they make decisions.  Pray for families who are disappointed that trips have been cancelled.  Pray for our economy, pray for those in the service industry that will be losing wages, pray for those that will go hungry because they are not in school to receive breakfast and lunch. Pray for those with compromised immune systems and the elderly, pray for those who are now in fear that the medical care they need may not be delivered.   There is so much to pray for, so get on your knees and give this pandemic over to God.  

Do not let Fear win this one!  Most importantly, pray for peace and rational, effective action. This coronavirus is scary stuff for all of us.  We all need to take this pandemic to God and pray. Because fear, He is a liar!

Now a quick update, we had good news this week.  The body scans all came back clear, so no distant metastasis!  There is one spot on my left (other) breast they want to do a biopsy on.  So, I get to have an MRI-guided biopsy, which as you might know combine two of my favorite things!  We hope that the biopsy comes back negative, but the doctor indicated the treatment plan will stay the same either way.  

On Friday, I will have the port put in for chemo administration.  This will avoid many future needle pricks.  I have been told this is an easy and quick procedure.  I will be sedated for it and come home after the procedure.  Like I said, fear is a liar, no reason for me to think this will not happen tomorrow… except in my own head.  

Monday is the MRI guided biopsy.  On Tuesday, March 17, I am scheduled to begin chemo.  

Another song I love is The Break up Song by Francesca Battistelli:
“Fear you don’t own me, There ain’t no room in this story, I ain’t got time for you Telling me what I’m not Like you know me well guess what?   I know who I am.    I know I’m strong, brave, and I am free, Got my own identity, So Fear you will never be welcome here!!  
Good Bye,
Good Bye,
Fear. You will never be welcome here!

Specific prayers for me:

That surgery tomorrow goes on time and is quick with minimal pain. That the Monday MRI guided biopsy will be on time and I will have peace about the procedure. That on Tuesday, chemo can start.  Pray that my body reacts well to the chemo and it stops and begins shrinking the cancerous cells.

Have a great weekend – be appropriately cautious, but do not let Fear own you.  God is greater than the coronavirus.