Three weeks ago, life felt normal. We went to work and school. We were in usual routines of running errands, cooking meals, praying with our Lenten devotional, and meeting friends for coffee. We worked on house projects. We attended Mass.
How Quickly Things Change
Because of COVID-19 and the precautions we are taking to prevent its spread, life has turned upside down. In a matter of days, nothing looks the same; everything is different.
Schools and businesses are closed. Shelves in grocery stores are empty. Public Masses are suspended. Normal routines have been replaced with new ones. Social distancing is now a reality. And there are many unknowns and uncertainties.
As a result, we are feeling a wide range of emotions.
It’s OK to Feel
Perhaps we are anxious or overwhelmed. We miss our friends, neighbors, and classmates. Maybe we feel impatient, living in close quarters with family members, or frustrated with how others are responding to this pandemic. We long for normalcy. We hunger for Jesus.
However we feel during this quarantine, it is important to acknowledge our feelings. It is good to journal about them or process them with a friend.
And then we must entrust everything to the Lord—over and over again.
God is with Us
God already knows what we are enduring and the emotions that accompany these difficult days. His only desire is for us to turn to Him in our time of need and surrender everything to His care. And one way we can do that is by praying with Scripture.
When we pray with Scripture, during any time of need, we can be assured that God will speak peace, love, and hope into our hearts. For God’s Word is truly His love letter to each of us.
Scripture Verses for Times of Quarantine
Here are several Scripture verses to pray during this time of quarantine.
When You Feel Worried
// "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1
// "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change…" -Psalm 46:1-2
// The entirety of Psalm 91
// "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice … The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:4-7
// "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." -1 Peter 5-7
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. -1 Peter 5-7 #BISblog //Click to tweet
When You Feel Isolated
// "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:8
// "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'” -Lamentations 3:22
// "O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble." -Isaiah 33:2
// "…do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." -Isaiah 41:10
// "…I have called you by name, you are mine…you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you." -Isaiah 43:1-4
// "Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones." -Isaiah 49:13
When You Struggle to Adjust to a New Routine
// "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6
// "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." -Psalm 28:7
// “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30
// “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” -2 Corinthians 12:9
// "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13
When You Feel Stir-Crazy
// “Be still, and know that I am God!" -Psalm 46:10
// "Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." -Psalm 116:7
// "I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish." -Jeremiah 31:25
// "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." -John 14:27
// "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." -Philippians 4:8
When You Grow Impatient or Frustrated
// “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy." -Matthew 5:7
// "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:10
// "Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." -Galatians 6:2
// "As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another… forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you... Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body." -Colossians 3:12-15
// "We love because he first loved us." -1 John 4:19
What Scripture verses are comforting you during this time of quarantine?
HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES
God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply.
Sarah Damm is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a Catholic wife and mother of six children, living in Minnesota. She spends her days running errands, helping with homework, and keeping up with laundry and the family schedule. Sarah loves her faith, coffee, and good books. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Sarah's posts here.
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