To watch the news, it would seem that things are going to ramp up here. It’s almost like we are just waiting for Covid-19 to unleash its fury here as it has done elsewhere. And yet as I prayerfully sought the Lord as to what I might write this morning, the question came to my heart, “What are you waiting for?”

Psalm 40:1–3 says, I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

We have been and are continuing to pray, not only interceding for those in need, but seeking God’s grace for our lives, standing on His promise to not leave or forsake us. And it is precisely that which we should be waiting for; that which we should be setting our focus and our anticipation upon.

I have often identified with the Israelites who came out of Egypt. There they were now in the wilderness – about 2 million of them – and they come to a place where there is water, but the water is not fit to drink. Instead of remembering how God, despite all odds brought them out from the most powerful nation on earth, and looking to Him, they looked at their present circumstances and anticipated their “fate”. That can be easy to do, can’t it?

Romans 5:2 says, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

The Greek word for hope here is elpis. It’s not the word for hope we often use as in, “Gee, I hope this happens.” This word for hope means a confident expectation of something. Strong’s Dictionary defines it as “to anticipate, usually with pleasure”.

In all of this, let’s focus our hearts not on the activity of the virus, but on the activity of the Lord who promised to be with us in trouble. (Psalm 91:15). The best way I can describe it would be like having a crisis, and calling someone you know is has the ability to handle it. Over the phone they say to you, “OK, hang tight, I’m on my way!” The anticipation of their arrival then becomes the focus, rather than the crisis at hand.

Let’s do that! Let’s shift our focus to the arrival of our God in the midst of this thing. Our God who is over all, with all ability to handle this situation for us.

So…what are you waiting for? Put your “hope” in Him. He’s on His way.

-Pastor Ron