Inspirational
Anesthesia
What a three-year nightmare it had (past tense) been!
Here’s a brief numerical rundown:
The first quarter of the year 2020 was packed with many catastrophic events in the Philippines, not to mention the wars and disasters around the globe. Our Taal volcano erupted, displacing over 80,000 residents, and rocking the area’s 14 kilometer radius with over 900 earthquakes. Because schools were used as evacuation centers, 2.4 million children were affected.
Days later, massive cases of Covid-19 infection, which originated in Wuhan, China, were reported daily worldwide. In just a few days, over 5,000 had died, prompting the WHO to declare the virus outbreak as pandemic. Basketball legend Kobe Bryant perished with eight others in a helicopter crash.
In 2021, 28 earthquakes and over 200 floods around the world were recorded. Homes and crops were destroyed, in addition to more Covid infections and death.
In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and flattened structures, leaving people lifeless and the world’s equilibrium unsteady. Hurricane Ian struck the USA, causing damage worth US$ 100 billion. More disasters rambled on and on.
These were more than enough to cause hysteria, grief, and panic shared on socmed.
A friend’s post screamed in bold, big letters, “The Christians are better off at this time. As an Atheist, I have to suffer the pain brought about by horrendous events, while the Christians have an anesthesia.”
Anesthesia?!
Anesthesia (local, regional, or general) temporarily stops the sense of pain in any area or all parts of the body.
Our God said in Isaiah 54:10 (NLT), “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken’ says the LORD, who has mercy on you.”
Believing this, we find our sense of pain and despair leaving us. Knowing that we are loved and protected from harm, we rid our heart of panic and hysteria.
This may be called anesthesia by those who do not believe in God, but those of us who do call it grace. Unlike anesthesia that wanes in a few hours, grace is permanent, unending, and overflowing.
May this verse assure us of God’s constant care and presence:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” (Psalm 27:1)
