I had a phone conversation the other day and the person who I was speaking to shared this verse and how we can find encouragement during a time such as this:

O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against  this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20: 12

What was happening is that the nation Judah was facing a war between the Moabites and Ammonites. These 2 countries came against Jehoshaphat the king of Judah. So the king prayed to the Lord these words.

In this prayer we can find instruction and encouragement during the COVID-19 crisis. The first thing is that the Coronavirus can represent the 2 countries waging war against Judah. So the king prayed “we are powerless against this great horde.” It is a great horde against humanity right now. It is OK to say that it is big and a huge problem for our globe right now. We seem like we are powerless against what is happening. There is no cure and no vaccine for this virus. This is what makes it so frustrating. Through this season, we do not know what to do. We are told to stay at home and thats about it. We seem so helpless in this state. Jehoshaphat was looking at pending doom and he prayed an honest prayer. “We do not know what to do” I will be honest, during this crisis, there have been times I prayed the exact same thing. How do I lead a church through this? How do we still make disciples? How do we still gather in a scattered state? These question lay heavy on a leader during this time. They have laid heavy on me.

But here is the encouragement and challenge for us all. “But our eyes are on you.” No matter how large a situation is, nothing has dethroned God. Jehoshaphat had a proper focus. His focus was on God and God only. He recognized the 2 countries coming against him, but he chose to focus NOT on that, but on God. We MUST do the same thing. We can focus on this pandemic and the wreckage it is causing. OR we can focus on the Lord God Almighty that stands above time and space; stands above our current circumstance. He will deliver us through. Throughout human history, there has always been virus’ like this. In fact, they have been more deadly. They didn’t dethrone God, and this will not either.

So, where is your focus? On the news? One the death rate? On the stock market? On the garbage politics? I challenge you that you need to focus on Jesus Christ. Find salvation only in Him. Hunger and thirst for righteousness with the time given to you right now. All our activities has ceased and the “I have little time” excuse to read and study the bible and to learn and grow into prayer has stopped. God has given you this time to focus on Him. When you do, we can find peace and hop in the middle of this storm.