Dealing With Covid-19 Fears

Right now, one of the biggest issues surrounding the Covid-19 crisis is fear. 

Most of the world has been under some form of lockdown for more than a year, and the goalpost of when things will return to normal is constantly moved. Everything has been disrupted, and fear and anxiety is evident.

A few days ago, I realised I was feeling stressed, depressed and upset. At first, I couldn’t understand why, but after I did some soul-searching, I realised it was fear and anxiety from the current state of the world.

To be honest, I realised I actually had trauma to deal with. I also realised I am not alone, and the last 12 to 18 months have been traumatic, albeit subtle, for most.

In this post I will share what is at the heart of the fear, and how I deal with the trauma and fear that can result from Covid-19. I have included a prayer and faith declaration at the end of the post as well.

Fear Is A Spirit… An Evil Spirit

2 Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and of a sound mind. In other words, fear is a spirit, and this spirit is not from God.

Ephesians 6:12 says our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and evil spiritual forces of this present darkness.

It is therefore important to identify fear for what it is… an evil spiritual force that is not from God.

The spirit of fear wants to control you, enslave you and keep you in bondage. When this fear is tolerated, it corrodes your thinking and corrupts your mind.

In contrast, God gives us a spirit of love, of power and of a sound mind:

• A Spirit of Love, to cast out the fear (1 John 4:18)
• A Spirit of Power, to overcome the spirit of fear (Joshua 1:9; Philippians 4:13)
• A Spirit of a Sound Mind so we do not have to conform to this world, and so we can stay in perfect peace (Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3)

The evil forces want to kill, steal and destroy, but Jesus came so we can have the opposite of fear and death: Jesus came so we can have life and peace, and have it in abundance (John 10:10; John 14:27).

Fear Of Death

One thing the pandemic is highlighting is the fear people have of death. Ultimately, death is knocking on more doors than we are used to, and the reality of death is now vivid for many.

This fear of death is subtle, but understandable. The Bible declares that the entire human race is by default gripped by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). We tend to shrug it off and try to ignore it, but we need to understand: it is appointed for a man to die, and after death comes the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

The fact that everyone will die at some point is something we do not like to think about, but should.

What Kind Of A Christian Are You?

If you are a Christian and you are living in fear, I want to ask you a question:

What would you do if you find out your neighbour has Covid-19, and Jesus asks you to go and lay hands on them and pray for them for healing?

Jesus touched lepers to heal them, something that was unacceptable by society and even against the law at the time.

I’m not suggesting anyone should break the law, but these times are certainly testing our loyalty to Jesus and highlighting idols in our lives.

The Amplified Bible explains the spirit of fear as a spirit of timidity or cowardice (2 Timothy 1:7), and Revelation 21:8 names the cowards as part of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:29 says we have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus. If you are a Christian, you cannot allow a spirit of cowardice or fear to control your life. Rather, we should be looking more like Jesus, accepting that God is giving us power and a sound mind to overcome the spirit of fear.

Christian, Guard Against Fear

While Christ delivered us from the fear of death, we must guard against falling back into that fear, just like we must guard against falling back into sin.

After all, living in fear is also a sin.

The Kingdom of God operates from a place of faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Fear is the tool the enemy uses to break down your faith. This does not mean we should be ignorant about the pandemic, but before we look to any vaccine or treatment to save us, we should first be looking to God.

Our Ultimate Protection

Ultimately, our protection comes from God. Psalm 91:1-2 says that he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:5-6 says you will not be afraid of the terror of night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks.

However, before we blindly cling to these verses for protection, we must understand the promise of protection is conditional, as clearly shown in the first two verses of this Psalm.

Are you someone who dwells in the shelter of the Most High? Is God really your refuge and your fortress, and do you fully trust in Him no matter what?

Making A Stand Against Fear

As I was talking to my wife about how I was feeling, it became apparent that the restrictions of travel, the talks of vaccinating the entire globe, the number of daily deaths and so on, was starting to get to me. I had allowed the circumstances to dictate how I was feeling, instead of learning to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11).

To deal with this, I realised I needed to surrender my frustrations back to Jesus. I had to intentionally and deliberately shift my focus off from the things that were feeding me with fear, and on to the goodness and promises of God. I realised I needed to stand on the authority I have in Christ (Luke 10:19) and needed to actively resist the fear.

Prayer

I started by praying the following prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus and I acknowledge that I have allowed the spirit of fear into my life. I confess fear as sin, as it is NOT from you. Please forgive me for becoming fearful when you are asking me to operate in faith instead.

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge you as my Healer, my Provider, my Protector and my Saviour. My life is in your hands, and I am merely your servant. I pray that you will protect me and my family from the dangers of Covid-19. Lord, I also ask that you heal me and my family from the trauma of the pandemic and insanity of everything that is going on in the world right now.

Declarations

After praying this prayer, I made the following declarations out loud (see Why The Words You Speak Matter):

Heavenly Father, I now declare in the name of Jesus Christ that I do not have a spirit of fear. You say in your Word that you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, of power and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I therefore rebuke the fear and command it to go, in the name of Jesus. Fear, you have no power over me, you are not welcome in my home and I prohibit you from operating in my life (Luke 10:19; Matthew 18:8). I now put fear off and behind me, and I embrace the faith and love God has for me instead (Philippians 3:13).

I declare that in the place of fear, I take up the shield of faith, with which I quench every fiery dart the enemy throws at me (Ephesians 6:16). I declare, in the name of Jesus Christ, no weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

I also declare, in the name of Jesus Christ, I will not be afraid of the terror of night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness (Psalm 91:5-7). I declare, in the name of Jesus Christ, even if a thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right, the danger will not come near me, because I have made the Lord Most High who is my refuge, my dwelling place (Psalm 91:7-9).

I declare in the name of Jesus Christ that no evil will befall me, nor will any plague come near my tent (Psalm 91:10), and by the wounds of Jesus Christ I have been healed (Isaiah 53:5). Therefore, I prohibit any sickness in my body, and I prohibit any form of Covid-19 or any other virus from making me or my family sick.

I also speak to the trauma: I cancel the trauma and the effects of the trauma, and command it to go, in the name of Jesus Christ. I also declare that any memory or residue of trauma will now be removed from my body, soul and spirit. I declare this for all members of my family as well.

Lord, I ask that you now wash me and my family in your precious blood, and that you will bring healing from any virus and from any trauma that might have come into our lives. I pray for a hedge of protection around us where the enemy cannot come through, and I pray that the blood of Jesus will cover us, every moment of every night and day.

In Jesus’ mighty name.

Conclusion

In a certain sense the pandemic is a good thing, because people are now confronted with the reality of death and the uncertainty about where they will go when they die (Romans 8:28). Ultimately, nothing is more important for a person than where they will be spending eternity.

If you realise you are struggling with a fear of death because you are not sure about where you will be spending eternity, I would suggest doing ‘the good person test’ by watching this 5 minute video clip.  

When we are saved and assured of our salvation, we can know that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and of a sound mind. As Christians we should not allow fear to control us. Instead, we should be a light to those who are in darkness, and make use of the opportunity to share the hope we have in Christ.

There are strict rules and laws against advising people what to do during the pandemic. Therefore, in this post I have merely shared how I am personally dealing with the fears related to the pandemic. Every person should look at what the laws are and consider what the health authorities are saying.

For me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)