During times of stress when I struggle, when it appears there is no answer, I have always gone to the scriptures to find solace. The scriptures always give me comfort.

These are challenging times. We have to wait and see, but it is my hope we can stop this virus before it rages the United States like it has other countries. The other day while reading my bible in the morning, I came across a simple scripture verse. “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord.” 2 Timothy 1:2

Like most, I would typically move right past those words, but I needed them. They are powerful. Words I needed during this time of crisis.

Grace, in its original Greek definition, means “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude. That which affords joy, pleasure, sweetness, loveliness, goodwill, and loving-kindness.” I’ve always understood that grace means “merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.” But during these times of unknown anxiety, the gift of grace means everything. His divine influence upon my heart, allowing me to find so much to be grateful for. It allows us to find joy. Together we can live with loving-kindness towards each other.

Mercy, with the original meaning “kindness or goodwill towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.” What we need is the desire to help every person. I’m asking for the fear and the confusion to disappear and be replaced with a deep desire to care.

And peace means in original Greek “a state of national tranquility; kindness or goodwill towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them; the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot.” I would love to live in a state of peace, rested, and tranquil.