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No Longer Slaves
Here I am again talking about a new song with lyrics that I found appropriate for today’s situation here in Europe. This morning, Mr. Dossett led us in a song called “No Longer Slaves.” One of the repeated lines in the song is “I’m no longer a slave to fear.” As director, one of my jobs is to stay abreast of what is happening in the city so that we can ensure the safety of our students. This week, that means that I’ve been reading updates on the Coronavirus from government agencies, from other international schools, and in news articles. If all I did everyday was to read stories of newly infected patients or of the spread of the virus throughout the region then I can see how it would be easy to be overcome with fear. But that is not how God wants us to live our lives.
I got to thinking about a trip that I took two years ago. My husband and I found a cheap flight that had a stop in a country that is not the most stable. Our daughter did not want us to take that flight. She feared that the plane would be attacked or that something would happen to us while waiting for our next flight. We took that trip anyways, with no issues at all. (I must admit that I didn’t tell my daughter that we had used that airline because of her fear. Instead, I gave our travel details to our son who didn’t have a problem with it.)
Right after that, my brother wound up in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida airport at the exact time that a shooting broke out. He had to stand out on the tarmac for several hours as they secured the area. Here he was traveling in the US, which is considered to be a safe country, while we were traveling in a country where there is the potential for greater harm. So what does that prove? We cannot live consumed by the fear of what could happen. As a follower of a Sovereign God, I have full confidence that God is in control of everything that happens in my life and in everything that happens throughout the entire world. There is no way to completely protect ourselves from bad things happening. This doesn’t mean that we should be reckless in our decisions, but it does reinforce for us that we can be a strong witness for Christ as we live in peace amidst times of trial or uncertainty. As the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy in his second letter, “God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
My desire is that you will all experience “the peace of God, which passes all understanding, [that] will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
Because of His Faithfulness,
Sharon Brobst, EdD
Director