5 ways to Glorify God during the Coronavirus pandemic

1. Be an imitator of Christ

As the Coronavirus continues, you may be wondering how you can glorify God whilst practising social distancing and staying at home more. The first thing you can do is to imitate Jesus, by focusing on Him and doing the things that He did.

In Matthew 22:36-40, one of the disciples asked Jesus: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

You see, if we have fulfilled these two crucial requirements, then we have done what is pleasing to God.

Love God - use this time (and I’m speaking to myself here too) to deepen your love for God. Spend time with Him, talk to Him, listen to Him and be led by Him. Read the Bible. Ask Him to help you grow. Praise Him and thank Him for who He is. Sometimes, being forced to slow down is an opportunity to refocus on the things that really matter.

Love your neighbour - even if you aren’t getting too close to other people right now, you can still love your neighbours. Pray big prayers for them. Help them with their shopping. Skype them. Offer to do some errands for them. Stick a positive sign in your window that will put a smile on their faces and hope in their hearts.

Jesus loved God and His neighbours well. And we have a responsibility not to let the Coronavirus distract us from bearing good fruit in our communities.



  1. Be thankful in the waiting
When times get tough, we can become distracted, very quickly, by the problems and fears around us. We can feel discouraged that things don’t appear very good. We may feel that we’re missing opportunities and that life is standing still. And with the Coronavirus around, it can really feel like that!

We’re in our homes more. We may feel stuck there. The stores are lower on stock. People are worrying and fearful. Face masks are being worn on the streets. The media are publishing so many Coronavirus articles that the average newsfeed is bursting with negativity. This negativity needs to be overcome by our faith in who Jesus is.

During times of trial, we should be thanking the Lord daily for who He is and the things He has done, continues to do for us and the things that He will do. Yes, the world is in a state of turmoil right now, but there are things in our lives that we are fortunate to have and we shouldn’t be keeping silent about those blessings.

We should be rejoicing that we have a Lord who understands our pain and suffering and plans to see His children through it. That He is an ever-present help in times of need (Psalm 46). That He has a steadfast love and is full of faithfulness (Psalm 25). We should be praising Him for everything we are grateful for. And there are many things to be grateful for. And what a lovely way to glorify God, by being thankful during a season of unrest. We are showing Him that we trust Him to work everything out when we do this. 

  1. Acknowledge that Jesus knows what suffering and trials feel like
When we feel tested and distressed, we may entertain feelings or thoughts such as: “God doesn’t understand what I’m going through”, “The Lord doesn’t care” and “Why isn’t He sympathising with my sorrow?”

In effect, what we’re doing, when and if we do this, is telling Jesus that He doesn’t understand our suffering. However, we need to humble ourselves in these moments, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Jesus understands every single one of our trials and sufferings. He knows what suffering feels like. He knows how to endure trials. He knows and understands these things so much more than we ever will. And even more than this, He cares when we suffer, and wants to help us through the trials of this world. He is just that GOOD.

Hebrews 2:14-18 says: “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly he does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Jesus was “made like His brethren” in order that He might become a “merciful and faithful high priest”, and He comes to the aid of “those being tempted”.

Jesus knew what it felt like to be human. He experienced this so that He could grant us mercy as our high priest in Heaven. He then comes to help us when we are tempted with sufferings and trials. 

During this season, just don’t forget these 2 truths: Jesus knows His children’s’ sufferings and trials and He wants to help us through them.  

  1. Remind yourself of all of His blessings
During this quieter time, where you are seeing less people and doing less in general, give time to ponder all that Jesus has blessed you with. James 1:17 says: “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow”. Praise God for all of the good things that you have been given over the years and rather than focusing on the things that you feel that you are currently lacking in the present time.

Here is a snapshot of my blessings list (try writing one for yourself):
  • The sunshine
  • The health of our unborn baby girl (and the fact that she is kicking!)
  • My husband and his job
  • Jesus, both who He is and what He has done for me
  • Our health and safety
  • Our food and supplies
  • The Holy Spirit
  • English chocolate (Cadbury’s all the way!)
  • My family and friends
  • Our cats 
There is so much in life that we are blessed with. Sometimes its during the low times that we can actually take stock and realise, afresh, all of the blessings that we have been given. So, give time to the One who, in His steadfast love and faithfulness, has seen fit to bless you.

  1. Expect His promises 
As followers of Jesus, we are called to expect that God will fulfil His promises. That’s faith, my friends! Even when the odds are looking slim to us, we are supposed to expect our God to show up and do all that He said He would do.

There are many times in the Bible when God and Jesus said they would do something. They made promises to those they loved. And, in return, God’s children need to have an expectation that those promises will be fulfilled simply because we know the character of God. He doesn’t break His promises.

In Mark 11:24 Jesus said “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” Jesus expected His disciples to pray with faith and with an expectation that they would receive what they prayed for. If they prayed without expectation, then their faith was lacking. You see, when we expect God to move in His righteous ways then we are putting our faith into practice. 


Remember, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith means expecting Jesus, even when we don’t see the miracle, provision etc. in front of us. We’re supposed to believe it will happen. We are called to expect God’s promises. Right now, have an attitude of expectation that God will move at the right time, and just see what that does to your faith!

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