Gò0dNews for Men
A Brief Self-Reflection
A
by Chad Hess
s you are reading this, the Coronavirus is
There is not a better time to trust in the Lord
hopefully in our rear-view mirror, and things
than in these latter days, with the current crisis, and
have returned to some semblance of normalcy.
with tribulations yet to come. The prophet Isiah said,
I am writing this during Holy Week and have been
“Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not
pondering how the pandemic, and our response to its
be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
effects, has impacted us as Americans but particularly
and He has become my salvation. The Psalmist gives
as believers in the One Triune God. Several things
even more encouragement when he says, “Those who
have come to mind. As Christian men, were we able
trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be
to continue to guide our families as believers should
moved, but abides forever.”
during adversity? God’s Word clearly teaches that we will face difficult times and that we should not fear. Angels and Christ Himself said many times, “Do not fear.” Did we trust in God and show our faith to others by firmly believing that we are eternal and that nothing in this world can harm us? How did we feel as Christians during the period, when it often appeared that our God-given right to worship was being infringed? How did we act? God calls us to serve others and love always, even in times of disease and plague. Did we do this? Hopefully, most were still able to gather together, albeit “socially distanced” and perhaps wearing masks.
This article is full of questions that each man must
Did we sense an emptiness and disconnectedness
answer. God welcomes questioning prayer and wants
because our institutions and liturgical traditions were
us to lean more deeply into Him. It is in the listening
impacted? Did we continue in prayer and Bible study?
for His answers and the contemplating of His Word
We know that we will face trials and woes. The
that we find the “peace of God which surpasses all
economic effects are being felt by many. The incidence
understanding.” In the words of Saint Peter, himself a
of suicide attempts, domestic violence, and drug
man of many questions and shortcomings, “May grace
overdoses has increased during this time, and many are
and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God
hurting. It is hard at times to trust and depend on God,
and of Jesus our Lord.”
is a form of idolatry that must be resisted.
12 // June 2020
About The Author
but to not do so and try as men to take it upon ourselves Chad Hess is a husband, father and Army Veteran. He is a parishioner at Saint Andrews Anglican Church in Rome, where he is involved in lay ministries.
