For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. —Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV
Picture it! Louisiana in 2020 was going to be my year! I was going to do things I have never done before. I was making big plans! I was not going to use my son Devin as an excuse not to go to concerts, retreats or live comedy shows anymore! I said to myself, “I’m getting out of this house if the last thing I do. Tracy Morgan, I’ll be seeing you at Paragon Casino Resort Saturday March 14, 2020. Whooo Hooo!” I spoke those words to myself on January 31, 2020.
Then March 2020 unfolded like a scene from a horror movie. A mysterious virus spread across the world killing millions of people. Only a few weeks later Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a state-wide mandate that shut down all large gatherings, events and even schools. The mandate included a two week stay-at-home order for all people of Louisiana. This was done as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus into the entire state of Louisiana. COVID-19 had attacked my little world!
Fear gripped me, my peace and joy left me, and I fell into a dark abyss. I feared leaving my house to go to the mailbox, and I didn’t have the courage to go to the store. All the promises I had made to myself about getting out of the house and living my life to the fullest had turned into staying inside, being alive but barely living. I wondered what could be done about something that was completely out of my control? How could I overcome this fear and get my peace and joy back?
I did the only thing I knew how to do. I began to pray to God. I asked Him to restore my peace and joy. I truly began to believe that even in the middle of a world-wide pandemic I could still live life to the fullest. I knew things would be a little different. Now, there are rules that I must follow in order to stay safe, and they also freed me from having to live in fear and darkness. I hold onto the promise of Isaiah 9:6, that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Now I pray that all of God’s children will cling tightly to the Prince of Peace and allow His peace to cover them.
Dear God, Thank you for Jesus, The Promised One. During this time of change and uncertainty help us to remember that You are in control. Calm our fears and bring us out of the darkness and into your marvelous light. In Jesus name, Amen.
L. Darlene Dickson
Read other Advent 2020 Devotionals or download the book as a PDF.