The Day of Trouble

This morning in SoCal, it feels like the world is ending. No sports, Disneyland closed. Schools closed, church canceled. Grocery store shelves empty. And where’s the sunshine? The news about COVID-19 and efforts to contain it changes moment by moment. But one thing has not changed. God is sovereign and on His throne this morning.

I encourage you to take some time today to sit down with your Bible. Turn off the news and your social media feed and fill yourself up from God’s word. I have a sticky note in my Bible at Psalm 27 that says “For the day of trouble.” I recommend it to you today. David speaks of human enemies in this psalm; the enemy we face is the coronavirus, but also fear.

We followers of Jesus have the opportunity – actually, the duty – to be distinctly different from the world. That’s true every day but especially so in a crisis. Ask the Lord to strengthen us to live with calm confidence in these days, to be willing to share instead of hoard, to think of the good of others not just our own. Lord, help us to look up and look outward, not collapse inward. The self-preservation, “me first” instinct is strong; help us overcome it. The fear and panic of the world is even more contagious than the virus; help us resist it. Enable us to shine Your light in dark days.

As we pray for our nation and our neighbors today, let’s pray beyond a “take-this-away-right-now-God” prayer. Let’s pray that unbelievers will learn enduring truths from this crisis, such as …
We live in a fallen world. Disease and death were not part of God’s “very good” creation. This is not the way it’s supposed to be!
We humans, individually and collectively, have very limited power over our circumstances. Hoarding toilet paper is a fitting symbol of our feeble efforts to control what happens to us. Things don’t go on “as they always have,” tomorrow a minor variant of today. Human history can be interrupted. Let’s pray that some, at least, will reach out to the One who is able to right all wrongs, whose power is unlimited, and who has a definite plan for our world and the human race. Pray for the fulfillment of God’s purposes for the pandemic, which we cannot know in full now.

Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)

Calvary Family

Maria Tan has shared an enthusiastic praise report. We last prayed for her sister, Hermelinda, over three years ago. At that time, Hermelinda was a long-time drug addict and was homeless, living in a tent in a secluded ravine. Hermelinda was a professing Christian and told Maria she was ready to change. Praise God, she did! She has been clean and sober for two and a half years and has just accepted a job with Teen Challenge. She will be mentoring and counseling teens battling drug addiction in Nevada. Join Maria and her sister in thanking God for His mercy, and pray for continued victory for Hermelinda in her new life.

The coronavirus is affecting our friends abroad. Please be faithful in praying for them and their work. Jim Hatcher wrote yesterday, “As of this morning, Austria is on lock-down. With few exceptions, we are not supposed to leave our homes. We are forbidden to gather in groups of more than 5 people; even going on walks is discouraged and may not be with another person unless you live in the same household. With the exception of pharmacies, grocery stores, gas stations, and other ‘necessary’ shops, all stores and businesses are closed.” Jim is concerned that “on-going isolation can lead to alienation, both of which are great dangers for the people of God. Ironically, in my Bible reading yesterday, the assigned passage included Hebrews 10:24-35: And let us watch out for one another … not neglecting to gather together … but encouraging each other… Finding ways to obey this command in times like these is a challenge for us all.”

Pastor Tomasz in Poland writes, “We ask you for prayer and we will pray for you. We know that God has control over everything in a moment of plagues and when we are well. For many people, fear has become their master, but we try to encourage people to be close in this ‘storm’ with our Lord and Savior. From Sunday, we want to introduce free Bible distribution and treatises on how to convert to Jesus. We will do it as long as possible. Maybe now through this situation God will open the hearts of many Poles.”

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea