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Maybe you’ve heard the saying: Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. When facing the coronavirus pandemic, and the economic and social consequences it’s triggering, my advice is: Pray for the best. Have faith to accept the worst.

Have Yeshua’s attitude. He knew He was about to be arrested, humiliated, tortured and crucified. In the garden of Gethsemane, He was very troubled. He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.”

His prayer to God the Father was for a good outcome for His life. His prayer was that God would save His life. That’s a good prayer.

However, Yeshua’s prayer wasn’t over. “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Yeshua did not want to be humiliated, tortured and crucified. But if that was what God wanted Him to experience, He would accept it.

That’s faith.

Job’s attitude was the same. He was suffering physically and emotionally. He was in a lot of pain. His children had been killed. His great wealth had been destroyed. His wife told him to curse God and die. Job’s response? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him. The Creator has the right to take my life at any time. However, even if He kills me, I will trust Him. I will be faithful to Him. I will be loyal to Him.

Esther had the same attitude. She was facing a deadly situation. If she went into the presence of the king without being invited, she could be killed. But she was more concerned about doing the right thing than saving her life. Her attitude was. I will serve God and do the right thing no matter what. If while doing so, I perish, I perish.

One more example: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and commanded the leaders of his empire to worship it. The penalty for refusing was to be thrown into a blazing furnace.

All the leaders did so, except for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned them and warned them to worship the idol or be thrown into the furnace. Their courageous, faith-filled response: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” God is able to save us from certain death, but even He doesn’t, we will remain loyal to Him.

When facing the coronavirus pandemic, and the economic and social consequences it’s triggering, my advice is: Pray for the best. Have faith, like Yeshua, Job, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – to accept the worst.

Be different from people who have no faith, no hope, who are without God. Be courageous. Be faithful. Be calm in the midst of the storm.