My brothers and sisters in Christ, our god is a just God, our God is a merciful God, and he hears all of our cries. Know that a thousand years in our sight, is like a day to him when it is past. Therefore, be patient, for it may seem like you have been crying out to God for deliverance for a long time, but God does not work on our own timing, he is an on-time God, he neither slumbers nor sleeps. Wait!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. If you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”

“Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is not the time for us to be selfish, we cannot live for ourselves alone, but should be looking out for each other. As we are reminded in Philippians chapter two, “If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort in love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy; fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself.”

“How dear to me is your dwelling O Lord of hosts, my soul has a desire and longing for your courts. For one day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand as a doorkeeper at the threshold of the house of my God, than to dwell in the house of the wicked. For the Lord God is both sun and shield, he will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from those who walk with integrity. O Lord of hosts, happy are they who put their trust in you!”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, it may be hard for many to believe that God is the midst of this coronavirus; but as people of faith, we look for the good in every bad situation, and from where I stand, I can see God’s handiwork clearly. Many people are doing good deeds for strangers, many who thought they would never be lining up for food are doing so, it’s not only minorities out of a job, the sickness is worldwide, it’s a neutralizing crisis, one that is bringing us together like never before and on our knees in prayer. But, for how long will we stay humble, will we revert back to our old selfish ways, will we forget God?  My brothers and sisters in Christ, when God delivers us from this crisis and we forget that his hand has done this, we will suffer. Let’s keep the faith, and as the song writer reminds us, “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace, for behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.”  

“They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord was my support.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.” The Lord, our God, prepares a table before us, in the presence of our enemies, and anoints our head with oil, so that our cup overflows. Thank you, Lord!    

How many of you are feeling comforted this morning? How many of you are confident, that God is with you? Many are no doubt fearful, but my brothers and sisters in Christ, God is in the midst of all that you and I are going through. God has promised, that his rod and his staff will comfort us, he has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us. But, are we leaning on him, are we trusting him to do what he said he will do? “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, and your rod and your staff, they comfort me”.

Prayer changes everything, I am confident of this. Many claim that they do not know how to pray, but we are reminded in Matthew chapter 6, that, when we pray, it’s not about using vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words, it’s about praying in secret that God will reward you openly, for he knows the things we need before we ask of him, and that is why he has taught us to pray in this manner: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.