I can’t think of anything to write that hasn’t been said or written about the Corona Virus and the tragedy of evil and violence encompassing the United States right now. Of course, not isolated to the U.S….

God help us if we are indifferent or complacent, if we think the things that are happening now don’t personally affect us (though whether directly or indirectly, we are all affected)! God help us if we do not acknowledge that racism is an active, evil presence in this world! God help us if we do not recognize that the abuse of power can be the undoing of us all!

Even though racism is incomprehensible to me, every once in awhile I will read the comments on an article posted by the mainstream media, and the bias, hatred, and vitriol is appalling. I thought that we, as a nation, had made progress through the 60s, and the amazing life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr.; but instead, I think hatred has gone underground and festered in the hearts and minds of people given over to the evil purposes of the one whose mission in life is to steal, kill, and destroy.

I want to be angry, usefully angry that is, not sinfully so (Be angry and do not sin…. Ephesians 4:26). I do not want to be self-approving, self-righteous, or deceived to think that I am sinless, particularly in regard to any (not just racial) hidden attitude of bias or prejudice that may have become a part of me through the generations of my family. It is so essential to come before God’s throne of grace with this prayer:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24)

It is difficult to know what to write here without being cliché. Although the violence, hatred, and destruction we are witnessing can cause frustration; we know that Jesus is the only solution to society’s ills, as well as the brokenness and sin of each individual—yet many do not want Him.

Jesus is also the answer to the questions in our own hearts about pandemic and the turmoil engulfing this nation—and we have a limitless resource of peace available to us through Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives:

“You [God] will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Fear is rampant; yet we have this assurance that, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Fact is, our emotions can be all over the map right now, and that is ok—as long as we take the advice of the apostle Peter, “…casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

And Paul gave this counsel in a letter to the church at Corinth: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

When pandemic spreads throughout the earth, when fires blaze, and hatred and violence fall like a curtain, we must recognize the forces of evil at work, and respond accordingly: armored up (Ephesians 6:10-18) and praying.

This is my prayer response:

I pray that God would release heaven’s angel armies to fight against the powers of darkness for truth, righteousness, and justice, just as they fought for Israel against the Syrian army during the days of Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17)

I pray for wisdom so that I will know specifically how He wants me to respond; and I pray that God will grant the leaders of this country wisdom and courage in their responses, putting aside political agendas and personal interests, so that the needs of this nation can come first. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

And I pray that God would send forth laborers into the harvest. “And He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Now, more than ever, this verse resonates in my heart: “…straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!” (Luke 21:28)