The virus. I'm told germs are everywhere. Stay home. Be afraid. This is what I think about as I put on my mask to go out into the public.

It is the suggestion of the health professionals that during a pandemic we restrict travel and wear a mask if we absolutely have to be out. It's enough to make me want to lock the doors and stay in bed.

Am I afraid? Often. Do I feel helpless? Yes.

When I pull myself out of bed every morning, my first stop must be my prayer closet and my bible study chair, because that's where I meet with the One who is in control.

God's ways are not my ways

In prayer, I was reminded of the prophet Elisha and his servant. I looked it up and read about them in 2 Kings 6:12-23.

The servant went out early one morning and was shocked to see an enemy army, the Syrians, with horses and chariots surrounding the city. He knew that army was intent on killing Elisha and any servant who might stand in their way.

You can imagine, the man panicked and ran to inform Elisha of impending doom.
The maddeningly calm Elisha replied, "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

The servant might have been thinking. "Master, you're not being realistic. See the enemy army surrounding the whole town? It's only you and me in the house. I even checked in the spare room. The men in town won't be much help. They aren't warriors."

So, Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of his anxiety ridden servant. And God did. When the servant looked again, the hills were full of hoses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. An angelic army.

If I'd have written this story, it would end there. I would have had that angelic army destroy the enemy. A glorious victory. But that isn't what happened. Elisha prayed again. "Strike the enemy army with blindness." God did, and the prophet led them far away. When their sight returned, the Syrians were captives in the hands of the king of Israel.

Did Elisha have the enemy killed, then? No. He told the king to feed them and to send them home.

Again, not an ending I would have conceived. God's solution for every situation is higher than any remedy that I can imagine.

The Lord proved to Israel that their protection didn't depend on military strength and strategy. The power, Israel's security, was grounded in the Lord.

When listening to news reports. Dwelling on threats to my home and health, I'm apt to occupy myself with developing strategies and remedies.

God wants to prove to me, too, that my worrying isn't necessary. My security lies in his hands. Because God thinks differently that I do, my faith in his care is a choice I must make every day.

Psalm 20:7 NIV Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Isaiah 55:8 NIV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. declares the Lord.



For your relaxing reading:
Fourth installment in the cozy mystery series.

Release date May 2020