the fear came on a Wednesday

the anxiety seeped into our DNA like a poison 

slow but sure of its path to destruction

the peace we once had was ripped away like a prized heirloom

leaving us paralyzed with thoughts of doom

rumors of martial law dictated our actions

wild races to big chains, banks & stations

our hopes dashed as we laid eyes on empty shelves

if my people will humble themselves and pray

if my people will humble themselves and seek my face

if my people will humble themselves and turn from their ways

if my people will humble themselves and just come to me...

i will hear them.

i will forgive them.

i will heal their land.

what worries have been consuming us?

what tasks have been consuming our time?

monday to sunday

sunday to monday

every hour on the hour

we've been mentally consumed by:

color-coordinated calendars 

overloaded schedules

unplanned overtime and

relentless to-do lists

"if my people will humble themselves and seek my face"

no longer confined to schedules, who or what will we turn to?

will we go to God with our voices? with our worries? with our plans?

or will we keep running from Him? 

trying to fix our own problems, trying to heal our own land.

where does our hope come from?

security will never be found in a 9-5

security will never be found in a check

security will never be found in the news

security will never be found in this world.

put your hope in God whose promises are true

whose character is solid and firm

He's proven himself time and time again

the hope came on a Sunday

with the new morning came new mercies

the spirit’s strength pressing us forward

in faith

in hope

in peace

as we called out to God to hear us

he healed us internally doing a work we could've never done on our own

society's view of faith is foolish but this faith is what keeps us living

the future is uncertain

but we know who our God is

we know His character

we know His truth

we know His peace

we know His face

so no matter what we face

we can move forward knowing that he is above us, beside us and in us

calling us to a deeper level of faithfulness

a faithfulness unbroken by the world's words

a faithfulness unbroken our eyes sight

a faithfulness unbroken even to death

we know who our God is

so we will choose to walk in courage

we will choose to walk in love

we will choose to walk in hope

knowing that better days are ahead

knowing that God is the source of all strength

knowing that God is the source of all peace

so even when we walk through this valley of death and evil

we walk confidently knowing God is our redeeming Savior

we walk confidently knowing we can call on His name 

and 

He

will

hear

us.

-written in early 2020