On April 8, 2020 the CDC reported that the suicide rate is up 35% since 1999 and to add insult to injury, depression, alcohol/drug abuse, and domestic violence are also on the rise! I don’t know about you but in the natural it appears like the enemy is winning but then God reminded me of the victory won on Calvary’s Hill! Sin, death, and the devil are defeated! We are not fighting for victory-we are fighting from victory. I believe this is what Elisha explained to his servant Gehazi. In 2 Kings 6:8-23 we find King Aram at war with Israel. When God prophetically revealed Aram’s plan to Elisha, he then sent word to the king of Israel. Aram found out his ‘gig’ was up and he became enraged with fury thinking he had a ‘snitch’ in his own camp but that’s a story for another lesson. Later, Aram sent men on horses and chariots to surround the city in an attempt to capture Elisha. Now when Gehazi woke up early the next morning he saw the battalion and became very frighten and he timidly asked Elisha “what should they do”?? In v16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then in v17 Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” I invite you to read the full story because there is a lot of meat to chew on! However, the point of my encouragement starts and ends with asking God to open our eyes. Gehazi was petrified until he saw that the army of God was greater than the enemy’s army. Yes, it may appear like we’re loosing this battle but trust and believe we are not!! If you have been adversely hit economically, socially, mentally, physically, emotionally, and relationally due to COVID-19 remember, the battle isn’t over! So don’t throw in the towel rather surrender your towel to God so that He can wipe the sweat and tears from your forehead and eyes! It’s going to be alright and we will get through this together!

Trust me, the other side of this pandemic is grace, favor, strength, comfort, healing, wisdom, blessings, and an abundant measure of love! Suicide, alcohol, drugs, and violence are not the solutions!! Jesus is the only cure and all encompassing remedy! My prayer is for the Lord to open our eyes, so that we may see and embrace that “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4).