With all this fear going on in the world over the Corona-virus,
I couldn't help but notice - I wasn't afraid.
"Why wasn't I fearful of this virus?" I asked myself the other day.
My boss had come into work one day last week and said, "Isn't this crazy?!" With his eyes huge as ever.
"What is? What's crazy?" I asked innocently.
"This Corona-virus-thing!" He said, astonished I didn't know what he was referring too.
I'm sorry, but Corona-virus isn't the first thing on my mind.
He went on to tell me that his wife has turned into a paranoid person and isn't allowing him to enter the house after work until he takes all his clothes off.
As he was talking, he placed a can of Lysol spray, a bottle of hand-sanitizer, a Kleenex box and anti-bacterial wipes on my desk in case I needed them.
I thanked him and put them aside.
He was shook up over this virus. I could tell.
Then my boss steadied himself and said, "You know, once they have this vaccine figured out everything will be OK again."
Will it? For a while maybe.
This virus has shaken up the earth right now, but a vaccine will get produced sooner or later, then things will continue to go on as normal, but.. wait, our normal wasn't good... so, I said...
"This kind of thing is going to keep happening over and over again in the world until things get very bad and-"
But, my boss, who doesn't have the same biblical background to understand where I was going and what I was trying to say, felt the exact opposite, and interjected.
"No," He said with a strong sense of assurance, "They will figure things out. Then the next time this happens they will be more prepared. You will see."
So that is where he puts his confidence? In "They?" or the ones who will discover the vaccine for the Corona-virus? Am I putting my confidence in "Them" too?
Is that why I'm not fearful of the Corona-virus?
While I lay in bed last night, thinking about why I'm not afraid of this virus, an impression resurfaced that I had one morning while driving to work a few months back.
Please bear with me as I take you through my thought process...
It was a beautiful morning, with the sun shining, bold and bright, and light was streaming around the buildings and onto the road before me as I drove.
I couldn't help but notice there were so many people out and about all ready, walking all over the place, going every which way. Lots of cars too. Driving here and there.
Then I noticed a man filling his gas tank, and as I looked at him, I quickly placed myself in his shoes. Realizing he was an individual, like me, living his life in the midst of a crazy, bustling morning.
Immediately, I had this overwhelming sense of the love of God for that man specifically, and for ALL the people moving about that morning. It was an enormous feeling that filled the car.
Then this phrase was quickened to me, "The secret of the Lord is with those that fear Him."
I love that verse, and not knowing why I was getting quickened with it just then when I was sensing the love of God, but recognized it as something to note, so I tucked it away in my heart and started my work day. After I feel asleep, sometime during the night, I woke up to this memory:
Our family was going through a VERY difficult period of time, and all of us were emotionally burnt out, and there was this one person who really wanted to know how we were doing with all this emotional unrest we were facing, and she kept asking us about it.
"So, how are you guys doing?" She would ask, with a sympathetic tone, reaching out to me and touching my shoulder.
My reply was always the same, "We are doing good. It's going to take some time for things to settle, but we will make it."
Every week for a month and a half, she asked me about our situation, and how we were faring.
Understanding her personality and tendency to pry, I went along with it and answered her questions, but never giving too much information.
One day, I decided to test this relationship and see how much she could be trusted.
Already expecting her question to come my way, I was ready for a reply.
"So," touching my shoulder again, she asked, "How are things going with you guys now?"
"Well, honestly, things have been a little rough," I said.
Time to test the relationship.
Then I said, "If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone?"
"Of course." Was her quick, sympathetic reply.
"My reason in asking this," I whispered, "Is that I don't want everyone to know the sufferings we are facing right now. They are personal sufferings between us and the Lord, so, please don't share this with anyone."
She agreed not to share what I was about to say, so I proceeded to tell her something minor in nature we were facing. Then I reminded her not to share it with anyone, because it was private.
The next day we were to have lunch together with a couple other ladies.
When I arrived at the venue, I no sooner was out of my car, before someone approached me and told me how sorry they were that I had to face this certain situation I had shared with this other lady the day before.
I couldn't believe it.
But, on the other hand I could. That's why I tested her.
How many times did I ask her 'not to share this with anyone'?
Maybe four times total.
After sharing this scenario with my husband, he advised me to quickly forgive her and move on, and to continue being her friend.
Then he added, "Only, now you know the limits of your relationship."
It was excellent advice, like always, and I quickly forgave her and moved on.This morning when I woke up and remembered the memory that came to me during the night, I knew the Lord was prompting me with material for this blog post.
To answer my question above, "Why wasn't I fearful of this Corona-virus?
I know the Lord loves me through and through. Is that why I'm not fearful?
Maybe because the Corona-virus hasn't sickened anyone I know yet?
No, it became clear to me this morning, I am not fearful, because I have a secret.
And I understand how to keep that secret, and I respect the One who shared His secret with me.
I respect the Lord when He shares His secret with me, and He respects me. This creates a trusting relationship.
The memory I shared of my friend not keeping a secret was in contrast to this respect one should have in relationships.
The Lord shared His secret with me early on in my life and I have kept it all my days.
Another contrast to the story above, is that I would gladly share this secret with anyone, knowing full well the One who shared this secret with me would want me to do so.
This secret I speak of is: peace
That is why I am not fearful or afraid of the Corona-virus.
I have peace.
Isaiah 26:3 reads, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you".
Thankfully there are no limits with our relationship with the Lord, unlike the limits we put on some human relationships.
We can utterly and completely put our trust in Him.
My faith and trust is in the Lord = peace
I know my life is in His hands = peace
If Corona-virus escapes me, I know HE will be with me, and I will thank Him = peace
If Corona-virus should take a hold of me, I know HE will be with me, and I will thank Him = peace
Because of this trusting relationship - I have peace.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. (Ps. 25:13)
The key is: The secret of the Lord is with those that fear Him.
Those that know Him and call upon His name will have peace.
Those whose eyes are completely set on Him - they will have no need to worry - or be ashamed, but be at peace.
When the secret of the Lord is with you, He promises to lead, guide, bless, prosper, protect and preserve you in the day of your distress.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. (Ps. 25:13)
The Lord showing us "His covenant," means that He promises to protect those that fear Him.
This is His agreement with us as revealed in Scripture.
First, you must walk in the fear of the Lord, learn to trust Him and look to Him in everything, then receive peace.
For some reason, I was given this gift early on in my childhood and I thank the Lord for this gift.
Having the fear of the Lord in my life helped me make right decisions.
The Book of Proverbs speaks of the fear of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom. A heavenly wisdom that chooses uprightness over foolishness, love over hate, and forgiveness over bitterness.
When you love the Lord, you want to chose the path of righteousness because you don't want to lose that relationship bond, out of respect for the person He is.
This is what it means to walk in the fear of the Lord - having respect for His ways.
In the Old Testament, God had an agreement with the Israelites, in which He promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.
Keeping His law and being faithful to Him is walking in the fear of the Lord.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. (Ps. 25:13)
Walking in His ways brings peace.
This is why I'm not fearful of the Corona-virus!
My hope is in the One who created the people who are creating the vaccine. Not in the people themselves.
In the meantime, while we wait this out, I have peace.
The Lord wants to share this secret with you as well.
Peace can find a place in your heart right now.
Keep your eyes set on Him.
Psalm 25
A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness
A Psalm of David.
1 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and
Your loving kindnesses, For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses!
18 Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins. 19 Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all their troubles!
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Blessings ~
My Sun & Shade
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