“Jesus, I pray that you will protect mama, papa, uncle, nainai, jiejie, korkor, and Malaysia from the coronavirus.” “Jesus, I pray that you will kill the coronavirus so I can meet with my friends again.” This was the prayer of a 4 year old in the midst of MCO.
Many of us are bogged down by various worries – loss of jobs, making ends meet, having to homeschool children, caring for the vulnerable in our circles, among other things. The future looks bleak. Social media, the news, and our WhatsApp groups are flooded with sad and alarming news.
Distanced from family and my usual support system, MCO was filled with anxiety. Would my loved ones get sick? What will happen if they lose their sources of income? Would a prolonged season of lockdown see me moving out of Malaysia?
But this child looked to the future with confidence. He knows how bad the virus is; how it has claimed thousands of lives. Yet he also knows that his God is stronger. In his little ways, this boy has taught me a lot about faith, about trust, and about family.
As we gather at 9PM every night, he comes with such excitement knowing that it’s time to sing and pray. He’d be the first to pray, and would continue to pray in between others. While I was there, sitting back, hesitant to join in. What if I say the wrong words? What if I pray for the wrong things? Prayer bears my vulnerabilities – a part of me that I want to protect.
And that’s when it hit me. Prayer is not about what we say, or how much faith we have. Prayer doesn’t make God do things. Prayer is all about who He is – what He has done, what He is doing, and what He can do. Prayer is all about who we are before Him, and in Him – our renewed identity, our renewed citizenship, our renewed family, our renewed mission. Prayer magnifies His splendour and greatness, while embracing us in peace and joy.
As this realization sank in, we saw a bird’s nest on a tree. I remembered Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
I echo the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We have hope because we know that God is in control, and that He is our greatest possession. We rest, knowing that He provides for our every need. What a blessing it is to have such a good, good Father – secure in His family, bound by His love. What comfort, knowing we can bring all our anxieties and pains to a Wonderful Counselor.
May our conversations ring with this confidence. May our prayers reflect just how great our God is. May our lives proclaim God’s story, that everyone may see His faithfulness, mercy, and grace as we face this pandemic together.
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