Faint Not! - Virginia Harris

As I sit to write this devotional, my mind cannot help but to focus on this crazy time in which we are currently living. Just a very short time ago, we went about our days in a predictable, routine manner. Fast forward a couple of weeks and we find the emotions of our friends, family and possibly even ourselves all over the map. We have no choice but to take one day (sometimes one moment) at a time as things in our world are ever-changing. In II Corinthians 4:8-9 we read, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

With the spreading of the coronavirus, it appears that there is trouble on every side. You may have lost a job or temporarily laid off. You or a family member may be sick with this virus or have some other health concern. You may have unexpectedly become a home school mom and feel unprepared or unqualified. At this point, your life may be only mildly inconvenienced, but you are desperately missing your church family, the privilege of assembling together, and are feeling spiritually weak. Though we may feel troubled on every side, God's Word says that we don't need to be distressed.

You may be feeling perplexed, confused, not understanding. Why is this happening? When will life go back to normal? WILL life go back to normal? Will I get sick? Will my friends and family get sick? Will we run out of necessities and be unable to get the things we need? The Bible says that in these perplexing days, we must not despair.

If we look back at the beginning of this chapter, what are the last 3 words of verse 1?

We Faint Not!

Don't lose hope! Don't get discouraged! Getting your strength from the Lord, You Can Make It! God is still on His throne. He is in control.

Our daughter, Tori, and recently I sang a song in church. The words of the chorus are:

                                         I can trust Jesus, I can trust Jesus.

He never once has failed to meet my need.

He is my strong tower.

The strength in my weakest hour.

I can trust Jesus.

He takes care of me.

Hebrews 13:5b says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Let me challenge each who reads this devotion to read Psalm 91 every single day during this uncertain time in our lives. Consider working on committing this chapter to memory. Our loving heavenly Father, the Almighty God and Creator of the universe loves us and is our refuge, our strength, our song, our joy, our fortress. Verse 5 of Psalm 91 begins, “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror of night...” When you lay your head on your pillow at night does your mind run wild with a myriad of terrible scenarios? Give those worries and fears to the Lord and leave them with Him. Run to His Word. Sing His praises. Keep your mind and body bus doing positive things and helping others. There are many ways to be a blessing from the safety of our homes while maintaining social distancing.

Psalm 27:13,14 have been extra special to me since the accident in 2003 in which I lost my leg. These verses have helped me through some pretty rough days and I pray that they are a blessing to you.

“I had fainted,

unless I had believed to see

the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord;

be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen thine heart:

wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27:13,14