297. GOLIATH, IS THAT YOU?

(The Faith Forum Series – Batch 4)

This evening, I was chatting with a sister in the Lord on some matters, when she told me that she was feeling discouraged. She said that, although she does not feed on information the way that other people have been doing during this Covid Pandemic, there is one Doctor in the United Kingdom that she respects, as he is level-headed and usually gives good information about the Coronavirus and the situation.

Although she was fully vaccinated, she said she was feeling discouraged because of something he stated. She had watched a YouTube video from him that day and he stated (according to her), that, given where we were now (in terms of the number of people vaccinated globally) and the emergence of variants that were making even the vaccinated sick (although without hospitalizations thus far), that we would never reach herd immunity, that it was too late at this stage and that unfortunately, everybody in the world would get Covid.

This had her down in the dumps, as this was a Doctor, she stressed, that knew his stuff, that she had been listening to for months and that was honest in his assessment.

I was a bit surprised at what she stated the Doctor had said but unfazed. I told her it was normal in life for everyone of us to get discouraged at times over one thing or the other but if the video she looked at, left her feeling so discouraged, that she should consider not viewing any more. I told her to remember that Paul in the Bible stated, that all things were lawful but not all things were expedient (1 Corinthians 6:12).

I also told her that no matter how knowledgeable and reputable the man was, he was still a human being and therefore limited and that no one but God could say with any certainty, what the future held. As a mere human being, no matter what scientific formula this man relied on, he could never say for a surety, what would happen in the future, in relation to the Coronavirus situation.

She asked repeatedly whether she should send the video for me to view, as she thought that it was good to have the knowledge but I asked her, what good would it do? I asked her, let’s say we really never reach herd immunity, what would be the purpose of me knowing this in advance? How would my foreknowledge help me?

I was trying to highlight the uselessness of filling the mind with all of this earthly knowledge about the virus and the vaccine and to remind her, that it is the Word of God that we should be focusing and feeding on.

I reminded her that we are not here forever, that God did tell us that we are like the grass that come up in the morning and die in the evening (Isaiah 40:6; Psalm 90:5-6;1 Peter 1:24; Psalm 103:15-16).

I told her that we should be using this time to think about how short life is and to therefore go out and do God’s work which is what he left us here for. I also told her that as a difficult a year as 2020 was because of Covid, that it was one of my best years, as I used that year to reach people all over the world from five of my Facebook Ministry pages with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. People being most vulnerable then, they were willing to listen to truth and they did.

I told her that in the midst of Covid, despite all of the ugliness and although God was using it to some extent for judgment, that God had done lots of beautiful things and was still doing them, like causing people to come to Jesus for Salvation, causing people who had backslidden, to return to him, causing Christians to engage in introspection and people to re-prioritize on what is important in life.

I also told her that the Word of God says that even though the mountains be removed, we should not fear (Psalm 46:2) and that Jesus promised to never forsake us, no matter what (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20).

I reminded her that no matter what comes, it never takes God by surprise and his plans go on uninhibited. I told her, for example, that if God purposed to bring two Christians together for marriage (as I was still hoping he would do with me) and planned for them to meet in the middle of Covid, let’s say December 31st, that there was nothing that Covid could do to stop or delay it. It was bound to happen and right on time. This is because God is greater than Covid and he is Lord over all.

I told her as well, that apart from me doing my part to wear my masks and disinfect surroundings and so on, I had tuned out of following all the news stories and information being provided from multiple sources a very long time ago because I remembered God’s Word which lets me know, that no matter what comes or what we face or how off-guard it catches us, that God sits as King upon EVERY flood (Psalm 29:10).

Covid was therefore no exception.

I told her that despite what anyone said, nothing could touch a child of God, unless it is within God’s will for it to do so. I also told her, that God had an expiry date for this to end and once that date reached, whatever it was, Covid had to end.

I told her that I had a pre-Covid vision or dream for my one-day Wedding (which I am trusting God in his grace and mercy to still provide) and it involves having a good number of guests and no wearing of masks, which I absolutely detest! I therefore told her, that if God is pleased with my vision, he will bring this to pass, despite the threat that Covid is posing now. I was therefore not worrying but just trusting him with everything.

I also told her, that I had been through so many things in my life, that for me, this ongoing Covid situation was just another challenge to be added to the list.

A few hours later, in contemplating on the issue, I wrote and added the following quote to my BIBLE-BELIEVING Daughters of God – Hephzibah Diaries Facebook Page:

“I’ve seen my God in operation and Mr. Covid is no match for HIM. That is why in the midst of chaos, I can feel at perfect peace. For, I am reminded by the Word of God, that come what may, HE still sits as KING upon the flood. The same God that kept me through so many other things that I’ve been through in my life is the same God that can keep me through this.”

What I was thinking and what I eventually wrote, reminded me of something. It was Goliath! This Covid was like that Goliath, going around aggressively, making a great boast and filling people with fear. Yet, like David, experience with God in past storms, tumults, adversities and upheavals, makes us smile at future storms. We are not petrified and panicked because from experience, we know that God’s got this too, even as he did back then. Back then, when nobody but him could deliver us, he came through for us, time and time and time again. He arose and showed himself to be mighty, intervening supernaturally on our behalf.

What was this Covid therefore, when up against THE MOST HIGH?

Of David’s response in relation to the threat of Goliath, the Word of God states:

“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, HAVE YE SEEN THIS MAN THAT IS COME UP? SURELY TO DEFY ISRAEL IS HE COME UP…

And David said to Saul, LET NO MAN’S HEART FAIL BECAUSE OF HIM; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE SHALL BE AS ONE OF THEM, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, THE LORD THAT DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE PAW OF THE LION, AND OUT OF THE PAW OF THE BEAR, HE WILL DELIVER ME OUT OF THE HAND OF THIS PHILISTINE.” (1 Samuel 17:24-25; 32-37)

As I close, it is important to remember, that as Christians, our faith and confidence ought not to be in a man-made vaccine (despite how helpful it may be), nor in science (which the Bible terms “…falsely so-called”(1 Timothy 6:20). It ought not to be in any Doctor, no matter how learned he may be or in any hopes of the world achieving ‘herd immunity’. Mankind is not in control and never will be and maybe this is one of the points of many, that God is reminding us through all of this.

Whatever the outcome, whatever God may will, our confidence should be in one and one alone. His name is Jesus Christ. He is a sure foundation, our rock and the only one that can guarantee that our souls will be safe, no matter what.

In 2010 or thereabout, when going through one of my storms, which in part, prepared me, along with many others, for this season of Covid, I wrote the following dialogue:

ENQUIRER: They say that we ought not to worry but there must come a time when things get so bad and so unbelievably chaotic, that worrying becomes justified. Isn’t that so?

RESPONDENT: Of course there is.

ENQUIRER: When is that?

RESPONDENT: When God no longer sits on the throne.

ENQUIRER: When is that?

RESPONDENT: Never.

In 2017, I also wrote:

“Turbulence: Very discomforting but in this life, nobody is exempt from it. To think that you will make it through this life’s journey without any bumps and bruises, is to be delusional or naive at best. You better strap yourself down with your seat-belt of FAITH and keep your life jacket clearly in view, which is JESUS CHRIST. There is absolutely no other way to make it through this life successfully.”

On 29th July, 2021 about one month before the lady of which I spoke contacted me about her discouragement, I wrote the following, which I think to be applicable:

(Above Article Written on 31st August, 2021)

ADDENDUM

Three portions of scripture that I have personally found comforting in my life storms and that has made me feel peaceful even in this pandemic are as listed below. They remind me of God’s sovereignty and that therefore, no matter what happens, he REMAINS in control.

“The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. THE LORD ON HIGH IS MIGHTIER THAN THE NOISE OF MANY WATERS, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea (Psalm 93:3-4)

“The Lord sitteth UPON the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.” (Psalm 29:10)

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall LIFT UP a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)

(Addendum written on 10th October, 2021)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article to be interesting, informative, edifying or beneficial, you may also be interested in reading the following under the ‘BIBLE-BELIEVING Daughters’ Page: