Three Ways to Minister To Those With Coronavirus

            A few weeks ago I took the test to see whether I had been infected with coronavirus. I was feeling ill, though I did not initially have the symptoms that the CDC had stated traditionally come with the virus. Still, I was sick. I took the test, had the swab shoved up my nostrils (certainly not pleasant), and then I waited… I received my results nearly 10 days later. Positive. I was not alone as my wife tested positive too. Fortunately, I had already stopped working per my employer’s policy that you must wait for a negative result to return to work. When I write these ways to minister to someone who has contracted coronavirus, I am doing so out of my personal experience. The following are the things I believe can best minister to those with the illness:

Prayer

            This may not come as a shock to anyone, but prayer is at the top of the list. Disease is something that afflicts us all in God’s world because we live in a fallen world. Despite what many false teachings may claim, as a believer I can still get sick. We should pray for healing as we see in James chapter 5. The elders of the church should pray specifically for the healing of their congregants, even anointing those congregants with oil. We can argue the ecclesiastical necessity of anointing oil another time, but the point is that the elders should be praying for their congregants’ healing. 

            Pray for strength to do menial tasks. One thing that afflicted me personally during my coronavirus experience is fatigue. There were about four days that I nearly slept the entire day, topping out at nineteen hours one day. There were days that I would get up from the bed and walk to the couch and those twenty-five feet left me so exhausted that I needed to rest or even take a short nap on the couch. Because of this, basic tasks like laundry, dishes, and cleaning did not really get done in our house.  Remember my wife was sick as well. Now that I am on the tail end of it, I have the strength to get up and do these tasks, though I still feel fatigued after doing some tasks and most are done at a much slower pace. 

            Pray for focus. Alongside the other symptoms that come with Coronavirus, one was fuzziness of my mind. It got to the point that I could not really focus on much of anything. This included the tasks that I wanted to do around the house, but it also included my own prayer life. I would be ashamed to admit that I did not really pray through this whole experience. This was certainly not because I do not think God is unwilling or unable to help, but my mind was simply not truly “there.” Since I was not really praying for myself, I would certainly need the prayers of others to get me through. I’m certain this is true for others as well. There are many other things to pray for, but hopefully this can be a starting point to focus your prayers for those who have come down with coronavirus. 

Checking In

            While having this illness I was quarantined to my house. Not only did I not want to pass it to anyone, but I also didn’t trust myself going too far from my house either by walking or driving in fear that I would grow too fatigued. This certainly increased my loneliness as I’m normally a social butterfly. Checking-in can be done much more easily in today’s modern age by giving a phone call or video call to anyone who is sequestered to their home. Seeing a face does much more than you can imagine in combating loneliness. While it may not abolish it entirely, it certainly helps move the pendulum of loneliness to a much softer area of the spectrum. 

Tasks

            We read in James 2 that faith without works is dead. James even gives the example in 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” This is much like those who are able to help a physical need yet do not and think saying, “I’ll pray for you,” is sufficient. Prayer is certainly important (which is why it is first on this list), yet Scripture also says that if you are able to help someone physically that you should. James goes as far as saying that this is your justification before men of the saving faith that you have. 

            What are some tasks that you can do to minister to those who have Coronavirus? You can purchase groceries and leave them outside of the front door. I have had several people bring us items and we have even paid the bill via Venmo to the people who accepted payment. Just the help of not having to go to the store and possibly causing others to get sick was a huge burden lifted. If you really don’t have the money to spare, there are ways that you can still arrange with the person that they purchase the groceries and you bring them. You may not be financially able, just physically able. When you do purchase groceries, perhaps focus on getting them items and meals that they don’t have to cook. It’s quite exhausting to cook, so items like canned soup, frozen meals, or something already prepared may be best. 

            You can do their laundry. I did not do this, but it is possible. The person who is sick can put their laundry in a closed garbage bag, someone can pick it up and place it in their trunk, take it to their house and do the laundry. The washed clothes should be cleaned from any infection so there really is no risk. Then the clothes can be brought back in a bag, folded in a basket, or however else is arranged.

            You can take the trash and recycling bin down for your neighbors. The trash comes twice a week where I live, and there was a period of time that I did not bring the trash cans out for the whole week because I was too exhausted. If you know that any of your neighbors are sick, ask them either on the phone or through their door if you can set their trash out for them. A very simple task but something that can be done when your neighbor cannot. 

            These are just a few things to help you start a checklist on how to help your neighbor during this time. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it can get you started. Hopefully, it will expand the ways that you think about loving your neighbor who is sick with coronavirus.