For about a year, we’ve all suffered under this “pandemic”. Some have suffered more; some have suffered less. Some have died.

But I want to ask you, with lockdowns in many places, have you drawn closer to the LORD? Or with many churches closed, have you drifted away?

Have you even sought the LORD about this?

“… In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

Hosea 5:15

Have you not just been praying for the suffering, but seeking His Presence and His face?

Has the LORD said to you, “Seek My face”?

And did you answer like King David, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

ST. PAUL IN THE DESERT

Soon after his believing in the Messiah on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), St. Paul went into the desert to seek God.

Paul wrote about this:

15 But when it pleased God … 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter … (Galatians 1)

Other than the Word of God (OT) to aid him, there was no spiritual authority around to sort out events that had recently happened, including why God had chosen him who had tried to destroy the church.

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1)

In the desert, Paul was alone with the LORD. He sought His face! And then God revealed Himself to him, so much that Paul was abounding in the LORD’s grace. Paul, who at one time had “formerly persecuted” Christians, became an apostle, called and chosen by the LORD Himself.

WE IN THE ALONENESS

Just as Paul sought the LORD, we, too, in the aloneness and isolation* of our recent lives, should have been seeking the LORD! But NOW is not too late.

*And I understand that this is not everyone, for example, nurses!

God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed this to happen. But God has a promise:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

God has drawn people closer to Him in this time of “pandemic”. God has increased faith in this phase of life. God has given hope in this hour. And God has strengthened agape love in this season.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

But the callous will not receive it.

I exhort you to:

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Isaiah 55:6

Cry out to Him, plead with Him, love Him! Not just with recited catch-phrases, but fervently praying to our Abba Father and praising the holy name of Yeshua HaMashiach!