19 March 2020
I felt the Lord has a message that He wants me to share. Its been ringing in my spirit since morning and then because I didn’t finish writing it, he woke me up at 3am. Finally!
The current situation of the pandemic coronavirus causing anxiety, worry and fear all around the world. Its unprecedented. All the years of my life, I have not experienced such reactions from governments through banning travels, closing schools and businesses (whilst its not public holidays) and etc.
I feel the message that God wants to relay is 2 fold:
1.Equipped to Help Others?
Are you equipped to help someone who are suffering with fear, anxiety and worry?
Just like Esther, God has raised us up and positioned us “for such a time as this”.
I know that the Christian world globally is praying for the virus to go away and die off soonest possible. That’s great. But whilst COVID-19 is here, do we hold our breath?
It could be up to weeks and months before it could be under control and then the dealing with the after-math trauma. What do I mean by that?
- Financial trauma due to lost of job/business/opportunities/economy – personal or family or business or country
- Grief trauma of loved ones.
- Fear of recurrence and vigilance that never left even after the Coronavirus its no longer a threat.
- And many more…
With every single problem that we face in life, there is a take-home learning from it. Its either we learn something good or become traumatized by it. Many of us learn not to repeat the same mistake. That’s what we have been taught. Right? Don’t make the same mistake twice! So, we go through life practicing that as much as we can. Some can be really good improvement to our lives but some become a habit of ‘escapism’ or avoidance. E.g. if we had a car accident, some never drive again. Or if we had a bad relationship with a girl/boy, we don’t want to date again. Or, we went to a Church with controlling Pastors/Leaders and we avoid going to Church.
Are you equipped to help those who are and have gone through the trauma of Coronavirus pandemic?
Fear and anxiety is a very real emotions. Just because you quote Psalm 91 and even put in on the speaker whole day long as home doesn’t mean that you will not face it? Ask me, I know that feeling.
Is being equipped means you go around telling people, “Hey, don’t fear! God is with you!” If that really works, then whenever we tell people to have joy and not depression, forgive and not hate and not to worry about tomorrow, they are instantly transformed! I mean, I have been a Christian for more than 35 years, I probably would have heard sermons for thousands of hours but that is not the thing that I can recall when I am in the midst of fear! Fear is like a huge cloak that covers and traps. Sometimes it comes from deep inside and rises like a huge monster that takes over. What do we do then?
2) Strengthen Yourself
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic is a situation faced by every single country and everyone. Some countries are worst off than others but generally, everywhere you turn, that’s the story on the headline. Unlike problems in life, some are facing challenges with children, marriage, sickness and etc. So, not everyone face the same problems, right? Maybe I face marriage issues but you are facing sickness. But now, everyone is facing a similar issue on top of their normal life issues. Like a double-whammy kind of situation.
Everyone is confined to their homes/country. Our usual network is not available because everyone has the same problems of COVID-19, on top of their existing problems. The counsellors, therapist, Pastors and Leaders could possibly be overloaded due to the magnitude of people facing problems. Just like how Italy is facing the problems of space limitation in the hospitals. Some has to die because there were not enough ICU and Doctors have to make the choice who gets to live.
Be a Helper
If we learn how to strengthen ourselves, we can rid our fears, anxieties and worries without having to ‘overload’ the already busy helpers to help us. Maybe then, you can also be part of the helpers rather than waiting to be helped.
Suffering in Silence/Denial
Will you reach out for help if you are suffering with fears, anxieties and worries?
Is there help available to you?
Is the fear gone after the help?
I read a e-letter from a Senior Pastor of a huge mega-church in Malaysia that says its ‘It is natural at such a time for many to live in anxiety, fear and despair”. So, we have to be unnatural in order to overcome anxiety, fear and despair. Peace would be something abnormal at the moment. Let’s be supernatural unnatural!
Christians in Fear
As I watched many of the sermons during this period of time, many of them are preaching on Psalm 91. They are preaching to Christians, not non-Christians. Why are everyone quoting Psalm 91? Obviously because we need it! The Pastors/Preachers sense that people need the comfort and assurance of Psalm 91. I mean, I love those preaching on Psalm 91, so beautifully elaborating the goodness and protection of God.
Then there are Preaching on Prayer to defeat Coronavirus. Great.
Then there are Prophecies that we will have Revival after the Coronavirus ends. Awesome.
Then there are Prophecies to prepare for the harvest after this trying season. Super awesome!
One thing that has hardly been addressed are, this fear, anxiety, worry that has been secretly hidden in us is now brought to light in view of this situation. But in actual fact, its already inside of us, like a sleeping giant.
How do we overcome it effectively?
Can I suggest the following 3 steps which I teach in my seminar to help you?
- Emotional Healing through “Deep Relief Now” (DRN): Find roots of fear, worry & anxiety by asking the Holy Spirit. You can go to my youtube video and follow my coaching here.
- Soaking in His Presence. You can read my article here.
- “Reject/Its not me/”Don’t Receive”. You can read the article here.
Finally, I felt that God is calling His people into deep intimacy. The 1 hour that we usually take is probably good but God is wanting a deeper intimacy for this season. Especially during this time where there are either Restricted Movement/Lockdown/Social Isolation. Allocate some time for Him. This is the time to REFUEL for the upcoming season. I felt as if during this period, there will be new assignments given to some. Others need to REST in His presence because there needs a RECHARGE for the upcoming season. Some have been on a roll and its been going and moving and doing non-stop, in fact, quite similar to me till recently.
Let me end this with my story:
After I returned from Thailand on 1 Jan 2020 after almost one month of ministry. I was physically and mentally exhausted. That also affected me spiritually, somewhat. I was sick while in Thailand too. Upon returning to Malaysia, I had to recuperate from the sickness and physical exhaustion of long travels & ministry in Thailand. It look longer than expected.
As I was battling all that, I had a family crisis that had lasted for 8 months. I was traumatized, shocked and in disbelief. I have released it to God and prayed. Yet, the crisis was no better than when it first began. It is heartbreaking, painful, anxious, scary and helpless. I cried loads.
The situation took a turn and became worst.
I was at a breaking point. Anxiety was hanging around my neck like a heavy, ugly necklace.
At that time, my Older Son, did a Silent Retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand for 10 days. I knew that I needed something like that. Unfortunately the retreat was full and I could not find a placing. Anyhow I was not deterred. I did my own version at home.
What I did…
As part of my Emotional Healing seminar, I recommend Soaking in God’s Presence as a daily practice. That was the way to go but I needed more than just the 1 hour session. So, I decided to go on a 10 hours Soaking in His Presence which starts from 12am to 10am. I would camp in the living hall and put on various Soaking songs/music by Laura, Julie True, Pablos Perez, Paul Ahn, Joshua Mills, Graham Cooke and more (I have a long playlist in Spotify). The Holy Spirit led me through a combination of quiet contemplation, journalling, spiritual warfare, worship, praise, dance, Inner Healing (through Deep Relief Now – DRN) – past and present situations, crying, intercession, speaking in tongues, resting and sleeping.
At the end of the 2nd week, I began to feel joy, hope, faith returning and anxiety, a distant memory. When once the anxiety was like a heavy black cloak is now replaced with His presence. There is a bubbling in my spirit again. Not only that I felt a RESET, I also felt that God wanted me to share my experience with others. This is a RESET that many needs.
If you don’t feel peace, displace your fear, worry and anxiety with the presence of God.
At the time of writing, I am into my 30th day of Soaking in His presence.
In summary,
1) Are you equipped to Help Others? If not, let’s get moving!
2) Learn how to Strengthen Yourself. There may not be people available to help you. This is also because you can help others and stay in the place of Peace always, even in the midst of the chaos happening. This is a trial run so that you can learn to have the skill/ability to do self-deliverance. And who knows, when you can do that for yourself, you can do that for someone else!
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