Truth in the Time of Covid: 10 Things For Christians To Do During a Crisis

We're each different: Healthy. . . ill. . . working. . . laid off . . .homeschooling . . . relaxing. . . struggling. . . Yet, all of us wait and wonder. We wait to see if the situation we're in will get better or worse, if someone we love will get infected or if we'll keep our jobs. We wonder how this crisis happened, when it will be over, and how it will change us.

Now, church buildings are starting to reopen and we have more questions. In a country covering almost 4 million square miles, the reopening plan for a church in one town is not necessarily right for another.

We don't know all the answers. Yet, I believe God gives answers to one question that all believers should be considering. How should we live, as Christians, during this pandemic? As we wait and wonder together, here are some suggestions.

10 Things For Christians To Do During a Crisis

1. Remember God has not changed. Don't just remember it, but know it down deep in your bones. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is all-powerful. He is in control. He loves us. He is trustworthy. His character is constant and steady in this swirling, unpredictable world. You can set your feet down firmly on the solid Rock of our God.

2. Remember our job has not changed. Jesus said the greatest commandment is: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (c.f. Matthew 22:37-40, NIV)

If God considers love the most important command, then it should be most important to us as well. Is this our focus? Are we putting love before everything else? Are we loving God and loving people?

Photo by Trang Doan from Pexels 

3. Bear fruit. If we truly walk with Jesus, we'll bear spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
As if you were making a shopping list, take inventory. What fruit do you need more of today?

In times of crisis, I often think of the "P" fruits--peace and patience. Are our lives marked by peace? If we know God, we should be the least stressed, most relaxed people on the planet. Are we? What about patience? The Amplified Bible's translation says, ". . .patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting). . ." Are we just biding our time and putting up with this season . . . or flourishing? Do you act in a way that shows you trust God's timing more than your own?

4. Don't be afraid. The Bible tells us hundreds of times not to fear. God wants calm and confidence for his children. Isaiah talks about "perfect peace" and Philippians talks about peace which "surpasses all comprehension." Don't you want that kind of peace? We eliminate fear by fixing our minds on Christ, trusting the one who tells us to hand over our worries and anxieties to Him. (Psalm 55, I Peter 5).

That doesn't mean nothing bad ever happens. It means that in those times, we lean on God. (c.f. Prov. 3:5-6) If we get sick with a virus, we trust God. If we lose a job, we trust God. If our country faces a recession, we trust God. No matter what happens, our peace comes from Him, not circumstances.

5. Speak truth under pressure. In a time of uncertainty, it’s normal to want to rush in with information. When others use the crisis to further ungodly agendas, we want to do anything--even embellish our arguments--to be heard. Yet, we have a responsibility to guard our mouths when we speak.

Proverbs 6 and 12 tell us that lying lips, a lying tongue and a liar are all abominations to the Lord. That's strong language. The Amplified Bible expands the translation to say, "[even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers."

God hates lying and says that if we are truly righteous, we'll hate it, too (Proverbs 13:5). Do we?

Lying destroys our credibility. No matter who we’re lying about or the form in which we do it, lies are not God’s will for us.

6. Speak the truth in LOVE. (Eph. 4:15) In all my life, I don't think I've ever seen Christians act so mean on such a large scale as now. Have you?

When Jesus expressed anger, turning over the tables of the moneychangers, or calling the Pharisees vipers and tombs, he wasn't just disagreeing with them politically. He was rebuking them for abusing their power and misrepresenting His word. They were knowingly rejecting Jesus and using their positions to hurt people.

I am concerned today as Christians fight hard over differences of opinion about changing, inconsistent "facts" which none of us can fully understand or control. To call fellow believers, "ignorant," "stupid," or a host of other nicknames in this situation may feel authoritative, but it's really just wounding and insulting brothers and sisters in Christ.

If someone is caught in outright sin--not just disagreeing with our point of view--we can correct them if and when we've met certain criteria. If we aren't approaching them in humility and gentleness, though, after turning the other cheek, forgiving them, and getting rid of the sin in our own lives, we probably should step back.

Jesus told his disciples, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NASB) Love should be our calling card. Each part of the body of Christ is called by their Heavenly Father to share in his grace. Are we reflecting that same acceptance, or do we consider ourselves better than others?

Love should be our calling card.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. . . . Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
(c.f. Ephesians 3:29-32, NIV)

7. Don't waste this time. Think about Joseph in Egypt. David while he hid from Saul. Jonah in the whale. Daniel in Babylon. Paul and Silas in prison. Corrie ten Boom in the concentration camps. They didn't choose the seasons where they suffered and struggled. Yet, tremendous harvest grew through that hardship.

I never want to waste a trial or miss the lessons God wants to teach me. I want Him to bring wisdom and growth out of hard valleys and uphill climbs. I want to walk through them with my Guide and Comforter, ready to learn and grow.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4, NIV)

8. Reach out to help others. Hebrews 10:24-25 talks about the church spurring one another on to love and good deeds. Who can we encourage and uplift today?

Let’s start with the church. The Greek word ekklesia, translated as "church" in our Bible, doesn't refer to a building. It refers to the people. How are you still assembling and loving each other in this no-contact time?

Church is the people, not the place.

In my church family, we are utilizing online services, podcasts, phone calls, letters, texts, video clips, photos, porch deliveries, and--coming soon!--drive-in services in our parking lot. We are gathering via Zoom so we can talk and see each other's faces. Our pastor even loads iPods and delivers them with the sermon each week to those who are elderly and don't go online. It's not traditional. It takes a lot of creativity. Yet we are committed to love and include every person, not just those who want to be in the building. We are still being the church. This isn’t fear or laziness. In fact, this is really hard work. We miss in-person contact. Yet we are using this time to grow deeper in our faith and compassion.

Titus 3:14 says, "Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful." During this waiting, are we all doing that?


There are so many ways to help, even beyond this list.

* pick up and deliver groceries

* make masks for those who need them

*drop off food to hospital workers

*throw virtual graduations, birthday parties, and weddings

*write encouraging cards and letters

*pray for people

* help struggling small businesses and farmers by buying from them directly

*learn apps and video programs so you can check on loved ones

*bake treats for neighbors

*donate to relief projects in impoverished places

*share kind words

How can you meet pressing needs with good deeds?


9. Make a choice to rejoice. (c.f. I Thessalonians 5, Romans 5, Philippians 4:4. . . ) It may seem unrealistic to expect joy in hard times. It’s impossible in our own strength. Yet all things are possible in Christ. (Matt. 19:26)

Each day is made by God and we can fill it with blessings and gratitude or cursing and complaining. That's our choice. (Psalm 118:24)

Last week, I attended a private memorial service for a one-year-old boy. His mom spoke about her son and God's plan in her life. She nestled a rosebush and the plaque my husband made for her into the ground. A friend played the song Way Maker by Sinach. Then, this beautiful grieving mom raised her hands in worship, claiming repeatedly that God was her Light in the darkness, her Way Maker, the Healer of hearts. I was moved to tears, overcome at the power of her trust and faith. Her son's death has dramatically overshadowed the possibility of covid19 in her life. Yet God overshadows all of it. She rested in Him. She trusted in Him. . . and He granted her perfect peace, right in the midst of sorrow.

We can count blessings EVERY day, choosing to rest in God's goodness and grace. Make a choice to rejoice.

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."  

(Psalm 28:7, NLT)

10. Watch and pray. We need to pray frequently and passionately for people in our world. Pray for your families, friends and churches. Pray for your enemies, too! Pray for other countries. Pray for governors, mayors, sheriffs and presidents. For doctors and nurses and first responders. For truckers, mail carriers, beauticians and entrepreneurs. Food service workers and grocery store staff. For children and parents. For an end to this virus. For God's peace and the other fruit of the spirit to be evident in our lives.

As God instructed, keep faithful to watch and pray.

It's tempting to put our hope in things that we feel like we can control. I urge you to surrender that. Put your hope solidly in Jesus Christ and in him alone. He has the power to fill you up and give you strength, no matter what's ahead, and set your heart free to "encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble" during this time (Isaiah 35:3).
When we keep God first in our lives, we will be people marked by love, joy, peace, patience and good deeds, not fear, discord, dishonesty and anger.

God is with us, church. May these days see you thrive and flourish!