Yesterday I was watching the news with my family and an advert popped up on the TV. It was informing the public that Covid-19 has no cure. When my 12 years old son hard it, he turned and asked, Dad, why is it that there is no medicine for Covid-19? I explained to him that this is a new disease and the scientists are working hard to discover the medicine. He then asked me how long it will take to discover the medicine. I told him that the scientists are predicting that it may take eight to twelve months or more. He looked at me, and shook his head, looked straight into my eyes and said how are ill people going to be cured if there no medicine? I explained to him that doctors will treat sick people using other means. My fourteen-year-old daughter interjected and said, Dad, the sick people are going to be many, and we have a few hospitals and Doctors? At this point, my mind got preoccupied with what is going to happen. I started comparing our medical system with the medical system I saw in Singapore and America. I started wondering if such death could happen in these two developed countries, what will happen in our country when such pandemic explodes here in Uganda. For sure we are defenseless and very much vulnerable.

As I was thinking about this situation, I was reminded of a story of Jehoshaphat in the book of 2Chronicles 20:1-23. It was a time when the Moabites, Ammonites and the Meunites came against Jehoshaphat for battle. It was a great multitude and Jehoshaphat become afraid and felt overwhelmed. He turned to God through prayer and fasting. “And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you…..O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (verses 6, 12)

I want to encourage those of us who feel confused, overwhelmed, fearful and frustrated, for sure “ we do not know what to do” in times of this pandemic “but our eyes are on you,” Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Yes, …in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Dear friends there Hope in Jesus!! I switched off the news and I got the bible and we read the story and afterward, we prayed this prayer together.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

I’m convinced that as fix our eyes on Jesus, he will bring healing and restoration and God’s will be established and we will come out of this pandemic stronger and more focused to do God’s will for our lives as a family.

God bless you