It was February 2020.

Our family was in Florida right before the pandemic first broke. I distinctly remember hearing about China building a 1000-patient hospital because of something called, “The Coronavirus”. We shrugged our shoulders and didn’t pay much attention to it.

We continued to visit every major theme park and had a blast hitting up all the rides. Do you know what the greatest fear was in those theme parks at that time?

Upside-down roller coasters.

Some people were/are terrified of upside-down roller coasters. Outside the gate of the ride, there would be massive discussions between friends and family as they watched the coaster loop to loop. The potential passengers would weigh the odds on whether or not they’d throw up after that foot-long Goofy-Dog, 24-ounce Root Beer, and Mickey Moose Ice Cream bar.

Others would have their phones out, Googling the stats of coaster breakdowns, injuries and even deaths. Some people just looked up and said, “No!” because they were too terrified. They had no desire to get on the ride. Some of them couldn’t even watch the ride without feeling queazy!

Meanwhile, COVID-19 had already landed.

We would find out that Florida was a hot spot for the virus. We would later find out that it had been making its way through all the theme parks while we were there. But everyone was oblivious!

There were definitely people in line with coughs and colds, but no one cared. There were tight lines for all the rides with no distancing, no masking, and no hand-sanitizer stations. There were plenty of kids with running noses touching everything, which was still fairly normal behaviour.

There was no fear of getting sick.

I was only back in territory for one week, before the world shut down. Theme parks have never been the same. Lines have never been the same. How we react when some coughs or sneezes has never been the same. How we look at a child with a runny nose has never been the same.

Consider this insight from Ken Goodman, LCSW, Anxiety & OCD Specialist with the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (adaa.org).

“Prior to March 2020, people were not worried about getting sick. We lived our lives without safety measures and did not think about viruses spreading or killing people, even though they did. What changed?”

“The country (and much of the world) was traumatized be the news of a pandemic. There was an explosion of media attention about an unknown virus that spread across the globe…To be safe and flatten the curve, virtually everything shut down – quickly.”

Later in his article, Goodman adds the following directive.

“We must now flatten the fear, a difficult task for many reasons. Like toothpaste you can’t put back in the tube, it’s difficult to dial down fear. Once a trauma occurs, anxiety is maintained with fearful thinking and anxious behaviors.”

“To reduce your fear…be mindful of where you focus your attention. Instead of focusing on the worst-case scenario, you can reduce anxiety, by looking at the odds, choosing faith over fear, and focusing on living your life.”

Here we are two years later and there’s a residual health crisis that lingers. We have a new health crisis, but it’s based on thoughts and emotions. There’s a mental health battle still waging inside many minds, predominantly in Western society where affluence permit this kind of thinking. It is a battle based on fear and anxiety, and we have to break free!

“Be strong and courageous.”

This is a theme that comes up a few times at the end of Deuteronomy and continues through the first part of Joshua.

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9)

As Israel transitions to a new generation, a new land with a new leader, this is the message God has for His people: “Be strong and courageous.”

Why is God calling them to be strong and courageous? Because the road ahead will be challenging. The Israelites may be exiting the wilderness and they have walked through many trials, but there will be new trials in the future. Nevertheless, with God, the future is promising. There are blessings in the future if they keep their focus on the Lord.

Joshua is a prophetic pointer to Jesus.

Joshua gave the people a mission, leading them through challenges, and entering new territory. Jesus gave His disciples (and us) a mission, leading toward new challenges, and entering new territory.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Look at the connecting promises in both of these passages:

• Josh. 1:9 “…the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
• Matt. 28:20 “…I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The road ahead for us, exiting the pandemic, will still be challenging. We can’t assume that life will all of a sudden be easy and there won’t be new challenges and roadblocks, and even viruses. However, with Jesus, the road ahead is promising!

We have to make a stand inside our minds.

We have to get to a place where we fight back the fear and anxiety, or the complacency and indifference if that’s your mental struggle. Either way, it’s a decision. It’s a choice. We can’t wait around, hoping that our minds will eventually come around to bravery.

What’s the outcome of that choice? I think that the late, great evangelist, Billy Graham said it best:

“Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.” (Billy Graham)

This is true for the Church corporately. And this is true for you and I personally. Jesus is with us, the future is promising and more fulfilling for those who make a choice to step up and step forward. Be strong and courageous.