I am reveling in the new opportunities for prayer, as fear and illness and anxiety sweep around the globe. My wife, nursing in a hospital, cares for those with the coronavirus much of the time and shares with me some things that occur there. Caregivers and patients are anxious, because of the great unanswered questions:

1. How can I protect myself and my family?

2. When will this be over?

3. Am I already carrying this disease inside me?

Many other questions could be of concern where you are. The result usually is a loss of whatever peace the individual had previously.

I love praying for people to find peace. And, what better time to do so than the Sabbath! The first part of Isaiah 25, printed below, came to my attention a couple weeks ago, and I have been recalling it with regularity ever since.

“O Jehovah, You are my God. I will exalt You; I will thank Your name; for You have done a wonderful thing: counsels from afar; faithful faithfulness.

Because You have made a heap from a city, a fortified city into a ruin; a citadel of foreigners not to be a city, not to be built, forever.

For this the mighty people glorify You, the city of the ruthless nations shall fear You.

For You are a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from storm, a shadow from heat; because the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall.

You shall lay low the noise of foreigners, like the heat in a dry place, the heat with the shadow of cloud; the shouting of the terrifying ones shall be laid low.

And Jehovah of Hosts shall make a feast of fat things for all the peoples in this mountain; a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, refined wine on the lees.

And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering which covers all people, and the veil that is woven over all nations.

He will swallow up death in victory! And the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from all faces. And He shall reprove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for Jehovah has spoken.

And one shall say in that day, Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is Jehovah; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

Whether the current pandemic is from God or man, don’t give up your peace. I want my neighbors to see me living life with a smile and a friendly greeting, ready to be a help when they want to talk. And, I want God to see me waiting for Him.
Shabbat Shalom (Sabbath Peace) to you all.

Scripture quote from the Literal Translation of the Bible