This is Day 123 of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Since that infamous date of January 20, 2020, 1, 557, 853 cases and 93, 439 deaths have been reported in this country. World wide the numbers are even more staggering. Along side those statistics is the one that tells the story of the virus’ impact upon the economy. 39 million people are currently unemployed. That’s more than double the numbers who were out of work during the 1930’s. True, the population is greater now than then, but the percentages tell the story. Analysts say the current unemployment rate is around 13 percent, close to if not exceeding that of the Great Depression. And even as businesses reopen, the rate continues to climb. Right about now you’ll probably wondering, “What’s up, Ms. Peace in His Presence? Are you trying to send us into our despair closet clutching our Linus blanket?” My answer is “NO.” Take heart, gentle reader. Hope is the balance and antidote for every ill known to man.
The opening lines of Charles Dickens’ famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, seem fitting for this moment in our history: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us… .” It doesn’t take much reflection to see in each of those descriptors of the times about which he writes, a picture of our current season. On the one hand we’ve never been in a better position technologically and scientifically than we are to design counterattacks against the virus even as it continues to infect and kill. The wisdom spoken by medical experts holds its own and continues to triumph over the foolishness spread by ignorance. In the midst of darkness cased by the disease, light shines in the heroic efforts of those who care for the victims. Hope answers the door each time despair knocks.
Because we believe that “the God who made the world is the same God who can and will fix the world,” we cling to our hope that what we face is no match for Him in whom nothing is impossible. In Psalm 12 David opens with a plea, “Help. Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men….” God seems to cut him off about midway through this lament. He speaks directly to David’s cry for help and makes plain His promise to protect his people. With that assurance, David ends his psalm affirming his belief that God will keep them safe and protect them forever.
During these off-kilter times, we of faith must remember God’s promises. They have not vanished; they stand today. Those promises are our un-frayed “Linus blanket.” They give us hope and hope does not disappoint. On the other side of the bridge of trust, it stands waiting to embrace us as we stay the course; through pandemics and whatever else the enemy throws upon our path to glory.
Love. Joy. Peace.