The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new Coronavirus (Covid-19) a pandemic and has warned it is accelerating.

While this is not the first pandemic, we have not seen nor have had to live through the effects of a pandemic in our lifetime. According to WHO, Covid-19 has spread to almost every country, and as of March 23, 2020, there are 332,930 active cases globally, and 14,509 people have died. Italy has its whole country on lockdown, and other countries are doing the same. Self-quarantining, self-isolating and social distancing are terms with which most of us are now familiar.

Here in America, people have been standing in long lines at big box stores, stockpiling goods, wearing masks. Local governments have set limits on gatherings resulting in major impact to many businesses. Schools have closed and many may not open for the rest of the school year.  Professional sports have suspended their seasons, and churches are suspending their public worship gatherings and moved to streaming their services to protect the vulnerable.

Everyday life has changed. We have not passed this way before.

Is there hope? Yes! God still rules and reigns. He wants us to look to him. He alone can help us through this.

For those who don’t yet know him as Lord and Savior, he says:

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, com, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

For those who are privileged to know him as Lord and Savior, his word reminds us:

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its dwelling.” Psalm 46:1-3

We, who know who God is need not fear, need not to panic. We can trust him. We can cry out to him. We can even confess our fear. He is a Good Father. He neither slumbers nor sleep and is ready to hear.  To King Solomon, after he completed building a house for God, God said to him:

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devours the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  II Chronicles 7:13-14

The President of the United States had declared Sunday, March 15, 2020 as a National Day of Prayer, but that one day won’t be enough.  But yes, let us pray! Let us cry out to God. He alone has all power to change all circumstances.

The LORD reigns!