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Yet I Will Rejoice
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 by Vicki Dorshorn

When the stock market began to tank in the early days of this COVID-19 outbreak, I found myself becoming financially fearful. Depending on IRA investments to supplement Social Security, my husband and I need mutual funds to at least remain stable, if not grow. In the past three years, they have grown, allowing us to draw a minimal amount from them without too much worry of depletion.

But then the bottom dropped out. My first thoughts were that the whole coronavirus scare was inspired by those who hate our duly elected president and would like nothing more than to see him fail, even at the cost of hurting themselves. They were simply trying to tank the stock market and destroy the economy so he would look bad and not win re-election.

While that may be the case, the more serious struggle for me is to put aside the fear and to trust God—no matter what. Period.

The Scripture that kept coming to my mind was this: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Six conditions. For me it had become like this: “Although the IRA accounts shall not grow, nor earnings be compounded; the gains of the stocks and mutual funds drop off, and the bonds decrease in value; the stocks and mutual funds lose their worth, and the accounts be brought to nothing—Yet will I rejoice in the LORD; I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

The conditions changed. But the conclusion stays the same. Even in the direst of circumstances, I must continue to rejoice in the LORD and joy in the God of my salvation. I must. Or I become a victim of the economy, of the “spirit of the age,” of the enemy of God.

The only way to be a victor—to be triumphant, is to continue to trust God. To know that regardless of what happens around me, my Lord Jesus is with me, taking care of me, and providing for me.

As the days have passed and the media (and politicians) have hyped this virus into a monstrous beast, a new set of conditions has affected everyone from the very young in K-12 to the elderly grandparents and great-grandparents, who must be isolated from the grandkids. It has become this: “Although March madness and spring proms have been cancelled, and schools put online or on vacation; and businesses close, putting workers out of pay; and church gatherings are cancelled, in lieu of on-line worship; and toilet paper, flour, yeast, and hand sanitizer are missing from grocery store shelves; and life is generally put on hold with social distancing—Yet will I rejoice in the LORD and joy in the God of my salvation.”

It’s true, really, that all these things become minor distractions when compared to eternity. When we think of what is awaiting us in heaven, can we not endure these trials for a moment? Indeed, when looking at what others in the world have endured for Christ, these things seem insignificant. We have yet to be chased from our homes and cities, hunted down and hacked apart with machetes, or burned alive or decapitated.

I’ve read how victorious the Christians in Nigeria are. How they pray for those who persecute them. How they rejoice in the LORD, even in the face of great personal loss. Because of the promises of God, they count themselves as victors, not victims.

Indeed, we do not have to be victims at this time. We, too, are victors—“more than conquerors”—over this virus and its effects upon our society.

To the biblical Christians who are doing life the Jesus’ way, all is NOT doom and gloom. Our Father has this under control. Our Savior is right here with us. Therefore we can say, “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Habakkuk 3:19).

In terms for today: “He will provide all my need and cause me to triumph over all my troubles.”

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