Did you ever think we would have a country shutdown, or a world wide pandemic? I don’t really think anyone expected this. but I am not sure why. The bible talks about plaques, infestations, and trials. These last few months have been anything but normal. Stay at home orders by our government. Hundreds, Thousands dying. I think the pictures of refrigerator truck filled with dead bodies will forever be burnt into my mind. But in all this, in the social distancing, the isolation, the illness and death that abound around us. I took time to PRAY.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Can you find joy in the midst of the trial? Most are focusing on the loss. The loss of jobs, eating out, gathering together in events, in church, even in grief. With the loss of jobs, comes financial struggles. How do I feed my family? How do I pay my bills? What am I going to do? Did you know all those questions had ” I” in them? I can’t do anything alone, but “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthen me” (Philippians 4:13) But as you are thinking about all the loss? Where is the joy?

Let me help you see joy in this loss. God is at work in Your life. God has provided you with time for your spouse, your kids, and your relationship with him. Are you seeing the joy in this yet? It took me a long time and lots of talks with God to learn how to look for the joy in trials. Another Joy is you are eating at home, sharing meals and time with your spouse and children (if you have them), so you aren’t spending money in restaurants, you are eating healthier, and hopefully you are trying new recipes and new foods. You can’t pay your bills, well the government is giving you a little to help and maybe you drop those satellite tv channels, or those Xbox and PlayStation live costs, maybe you tighten your belt and take a hard look at what is essential. I think God wants us to stop focusing on the money and needs of our lives and TRUST in HIM. So let’s PRAY. In Matthew 6:24 it tells us “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. So are you seeing some of the hidden joys yet? I hope so and I hope you are taking time to Thank God for his provisions, even if they are not all you want or think you need.

I want to look at our attitude in this trial, our testing of Faith as James put it in James 1:2-4. When we are not in each others presences, are our behaviors different? I think mine has. Even when I work at it, I think all this isolation, sometimes leads to frustration, anxiety, insecurities, and even a little fear. Why do you think our behavior is different, is it because we don’t have to practice social skills because we are stay at home or isolated? I don’t think so. I think that our lives have been turned upside down. I want to use an example, I heard Priscilla Shirer use in one of her bible studies. She was going fishing with her boys and the fishing boat on the shore was upside down to stay dry, but she knew when they turned it over there would be uninvited guest, maybe a snake, maybe a frog, maybe spiders or bugs, but nothing she would want to have joining them. When our lives are turn upside down like that boat, it is a feeding ground for uninvited feelings, fear, doubts, insecurity, anxiety; it is a feeding ground for the enemy. We need to think before we act. We might even want to ask God to direct our words and actions before we do them. I have seem so many who spew hateful words and are almost mean to others on line, and even in person. Let’s stop and PRAY…nothing deters the enemy like PRAYER. so when I say we are in this together so PRAY, that is exactly what I am asking you to do.

Pray for guidance. Pray for wisdom. Pray for God to help you be mindful of your words. Pray for actions of kindness and love. Pray against the thoughts of the enemy. Pray for God to help You see who He says You are. Pray with joy and thanksgiving even in the midst of the trial. There is Power in Prayer.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” Phippians 4:6-7

Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘I tell you the truth. If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11: 22-25

So let me pray for you right now.

Heavenly Father, In this time of uncertainty and trials, we know that You are our strength. We come before you in PRAYER. As Your word told us in 2Corinthians 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”, so we come humble , in prayer. We thank You Lord, for Your guidance, Your wisdom and we pray that You will help us see the joy in the trial, help us live according to Your will and most importantly let us Pray before we act. Lord, we pray for the ill, those in need, those in grief, and we pray for Your protection over all of the first responders and medical teams, our families, our friends, and all Your children. You are the Lord of Provision and we Trust in Your will to provide for our needs. Lord. Thank You that You are our refuge, our rock, our fortress in this time in our lives. On our knees, we praise You, for You will, fight our battles for us and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Thank You Lord, for you hear our cries and you will wipe away every tear from our eyes; for great is Your Love for us. All Glory and Praise is yours today, and forever. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Savior. AMEN

I hope that everyone is taking time to look for the joy and thank Jesus for He is our provision, our peace, our purpose, our protector and You hears our prayers….Your love is perfect.