Jen’s Gem: Put your faith in God in all things.

Last week, I wrote about the new normals my children and I are experiencing due to this pestilence that has hit our country. Life in our house has wiggled to say the least as it has for so many others. Kids at home, parents at home – a new paradigm that we are all struggling to get used to.

My social media feeds are filled with a combination of recommendations on how to spend this time, funny memes, games, and of course news updates. Interestingly, and somewhat to my surprise, more and more people are sharing Scriptures and inviting people to join them in prayer.

To break up the routine of my workday and undo the quarantine eating frenzy, I walked around my condo complex. As I passed each building, I prayed for God’s protection over the residents. I prayed for Him to squelch any fears they may have. I prayed for Him to let each person know that He’s got this thing and it’ll all be ok.

I also prayed for them to know how much they are loved by their Father in heaven, who has promised that He will never leave them nor forsake them. 

At my church last week, many of us came together to pray. Our petitions ranged from praying for those who were ill to the medical community to our leaders and more. There was a palpable presence of God felt throughout the room as our requests were lifted up to heaven for God to act upon as only He can.

On our own, we cannot stop this vile thing, but with God, all things are possible.

I believe more prayers are being said over the past week or so than one can count. With nearly eight billion people on the planet, it’s possible that at least half are sending up their requests, hoping that they will wake up the next day to a breaking news update of “It’s over.”

I don’t know when we will see this message splashing across the airwaves, but I do know it’s coming.

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”

How do I know this? First, because God said so in His Word above in Psalm 91:3-6. Second, because people are beginning to recognize that we need God back in our lives, in our children’s lives, in our homes, and in every place our feet tread. There’s no way we will beat this without His intervention.

He will be the one to provide the cure or vaccine. He will stop this deadly thing in its tracks so that no  more of His children are harmed. He will change hearts from greed and hoarding to selflessness and compassion. I can’t do this and neither can you.

The other day I saw a post that said something to the effect of “whatever god you serve, pray.” Whatever god you serve. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to pray to a ‘whatever god.’ I don’t want to send up my prayers to an unknown thing that is powerless to stop this evil disease, restore our economy, and save our great country.

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Mark 11:23

I’m praying to the God who created the universe, who spoke every single thing into existence, and who  sent His only Son to save us. He’s the one I want working on this. He’s the one I want leading the charge. He’s the one I’m putting my faith in.

This week, I’d like you to consider who you want to stop this evil thing. Who do you want to hire for this very important job? Who do you want to return your family’s routine back to normal? Who do you want to restore your dwindling retirement fund? Who do you want to rebuild your small business? 

I’ve hired God and through His Son Jesus and the mighty Holy Spirit, we will flatten this curve so fast, it’ll break the internet.

“…the word of faith which we preach; that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”