What brings you peace? Does watching a gorgeous sunset in Hawaii put you at ease? I remember coming to a complete stop to enjoy this sunset. I pulled off to the side of the road and stared in awe like everyone beside me.

For some, having a peace of mind these days during the Coronavirus pandemic may be as elusive as a package of toilet paper at the supermarket. The longer we stay at home and away from loved ones in order to protect their health (and ours) — and to keep from unknowingly spreading the virus if we are asymptomatic — can take its toll on our mental health.

Just watching the daily news or scanning top headlines that speak of doom and gloom can put you in an irritable mood or even make you depressed.

As crazy as it sounds, I think I was put into “training” for this pandemic more than a decade ago. Almost like an athlete training for the Olympics.

Huh?

Let me explain.

When the economy crumbled after the mortgage crisis and we fell into the Great Recession, I was laid off. I was crushed. In hindsight, God was preparing me for something else. Several years later, I received a three-fold increase in abundance.

Fast forward to the present moment.

We live in a time filled with uncertainty — again. Except this time, it’s much worse.

Today, the United States surpassed 1 million Coronavirus cases. It’s a third of the global infections.

Since early March, millions have been laid off. People can’t pay their bills and they are running out of money to buy food. We don’t know when our “normal” lives will resume and we don’t know when they’ll find a cure for COVID-19.

But “we can be confident, and we can have perfect peace. Why? Because perfect peace doesn’t come from the world. Courage doesn’t come from the world, and neither does confidence. These things come from a relationship with Almighty God. We can have hope in challenging times because God has promised us victory. As long as we stay in faith, as long as we put our trust and hope in God, we will stay in victory.”

When I had trials and tribulations a few years ago, I turned to page 158 in Wake Up to Hope Devotional by Joel and Victoria Osteen, and read it out loud before I started my day. It gave me comfort and the courage to face life’s challenges. Reading this every morning put my mind at ease and set my thoughts in the right direction.

Everything will be alright.

Stimulus checks are being mailed. Business loans are being distributed. Organizations across the globe are coming together to pass out free food in their communities. Credit card companies are temporarily forgoing collecting those monthly payments.

Like an athlete training for the Olympics, my day has come. My previous experiences during the Great Recession has made me resilient. My faith has grown stronger over the years and I truly believe I am a beloved child of the Most High God. I am going for the gold medal.

Despite what is going on in the world today, I have perfect peace.