PS Many people will not be able to go to church in the coming weeks. However, we can minister to them electronically. Feel free to forward this message to them with ebyb@kruispad.com in the CC line. We will then add them to our free distribution list.

Early Monday morning, my wife, Renata, went to Spar. People had spent the night with us and we had no more milk. Many shelves were empty. First she thought it was because it was Monday that there was so little stock. Until she came to the shelf where you usually find the toilet paper. Not even a single roll of toilet paper in sight.

Why are people so concerned about toilet paper? The virus doesn’t affect your stomach. So I ask Mr Google: Why is everyone buying toilet paper? The result was a few interesting articles. One psychologist said in uncertain times it gives peace of mind to have an abundance of that white gold in your cupboards. I don’t know where that comes from …

Another article on CNN’s website had the following heading: Stop buying toilet paper. Start thinking about what really matters. I think that’s a good idea. Know what the virus is and what it is not. It’s a dangerous disease that is much more infectious than a normal flu virus. It also kills more easily. We can’t do much about the virus itself. But we can lessen our chances of infection.

Here are a few tips:

1. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. This is the easiest and most effective way of getting rid of viruses.
2. Do not touch other people. It may seem strange to keep your friends at a distance of a metre, but everybody understands this is only a temporary measure to prevent infection.
3. Stay home if you experience flu symptoms. In this way, we can prevent the virus from spreading further.
4. Carry a handkerchief with you for that unexpected sneeze.
5. Regularly clean surfaces touched by people.

That is what is possible for us to do. No wait, there is something else. We can pray. We believe in prayer, not so? We believe that God hears our prayers and will certainly do something about our prayers. Therefore, let’s pray that God will help everyone, especially the elderly and also the many suffering from compromised immunity. May He hold them in His protective embrace.

Let’s also pray that God will give medical practitioners the wisdom to find a solution soon. May God help us stop this virus. Our God is so much greater than any virus.

If your stock of toilet paper runs low, go and buy a pack or two, but leave some for the other people. Our hope does not lie in our stock of toilet paper, but in our God. So let’s look up to the mountains and read Psalm 121:

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.

God guards you from every evil [including Covid-19], he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,

he guards you now, he guards you always.

 In the tough times, let’s confess our beliefs out loud with Ryan Stevenson:

You are still my God
You’re still my Rock
My only hope, Lord
You’re all I’ve got
In every valley or mountaintop
I’ll say hallelujah
You’re still my God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B-Jd_qGVBA

Keep calm and know that God is working.

Prayer

Father, You know everything. You see our uncertainty, anxiety and confusion.  Our hope is in You. You are the Answer to all our problems. Today, we intercede for every person threatened by the Covid-19 virus. We in particular pray for the senior citizens and people with compromised immunity. Lord, please look after each of us. Amen.