No Evil Will Conquer You – Psalm 91 Part 3

Scripture: Psalm 91 (Click Link)

9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! (Psalm 91:9-13 NLT) This COVID-19 pandemic is different from other disasters that have happened in my lifetime. For one thing, it’s global, not localized. We’re used to hearing about disasters that happen in other parts of the world and we send aid to those surviving and recovering. Or a disaster occurs close to home and it impacts us directly and others send assistance to our region. But there’s no “here and there” with this. This disaster doesn’t just happen like a hurricane or tornado or wildfire and then we clean up the mess it leaves.

Here are some more things we’re facing apart from the Fear Factors we considered in yesterday’s devotional: • The Uncertainty Factor. This thing is on-going and its duration and the scope of its impact is uncertain. We get projections of how many will be infected and how many will die from the disease. We see charts and graphs of the “curve” if everyone practices “Social Distancing” the “curve” if people don’t cooperate. We hear that it normally takes years to develop and test an effective vaccine and then we hear that in this case it could take a year or 18 months, but nobody’s really sure. We hear about treatments that are under development that show some promise, but all in all, it’s a lot of “maybe’s and maybe not’s” and “hope so’s and hope not’s”! There’s a lot we don’t know, and we need a faith that overcomes uncertainties.
• The Disappointment Factor: Schools are closed and it’s uncertain how long that will be. I feel bad for 5th graders and 8th graders and high school seniors who don’t get to celebrate their transitional events. I feel bad for school athletes and band members and participants in all the annual activities that will miss their special moments! A lot of people are facing disappointments and we need a faith that will weather disappointments! Prayer: Father, We make you our refuge and shelter. Uncertainty and Disappointment will not conquer or overcome us. We will counter the uncertainties, questions and fears with your faithful promises and trust in your steadfast love. We trust in you. In Jesus’ Name!

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