Well, the truth is out. I’m officially losing it! Everything is different now. It is currently midnight a few days ago… and all of a sudden creativity starts tickling my brain. Or wait, is that Rona in my throat? WHO KNOWS! 

To set the mood, I have contemplated pulling a 2007 Britney about three times this week. I told myself not to cut my bangs a few times today and I don’t even have any. I became livid after my roommate asked for toilet paper, I swear everyone got married this week and to top it all off I’m 100% sure that Carole did it! 

It’s insane, am I going crazy? 

Simple answer….. Yes! YES I AM! 

It is like CRAZY right now. You and I both have the right to feel weird and go a little crazy. We’ve never lived through a pandemic before. So take a breather, take an allergy pill and relax. God has you. He really does! 

How do I know? Two verses! 

Let’s start with Psalm 23:4 in the NIV version. 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

See how it says “I walk through the DARKEST VALLEY.” It speaks of dark times. Of a dark- scary-sad-pandemic-depressing-horrific-evilish-no-homies-no-Starbucks-no-The-Voice-no-Ale-House kind of time. It simply means DARK. But then, this verse is followed by “I will fear no evil,”. This is the part of this verse that is easier said than done. This is the part where you, a CHRIST-ian must say to yourself. “I need to look like Jesus a little to believe this part,” and “I need to build a little faith here because, I DONT FEEEEEEEEL THIS” 

*holds clippers in and ready to buzz a cap. 

This part requires faith. It requires the human to reflect the character of Jesus that relinquishes all doubt. A wholehearted trust fall towards faith. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! There is a COMMA after. “For you are with me” follows that.  It means you will need to convince the self that Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There) is with you during this time and working through this darkness with you. He is El Roi and he sees you and your struggle. He understands you better than anyone and knows exactly how to comfort you.

The last part of this verse is interesting. It sounds kind of painful. And makes no sense to me sometimes. How can a rod or a staff comfort me? This metaphor speaks of a shepherd’s care tool for his sheep. See, back in the day, like when your grandparents were kids, shepherds would care for their sheep. They owned a staff that would help them defend the sheep from wolves and guide them when they needed direction. In this verse, God promises to use His staff to defend us from the evil ahead and to guide us in the right direction as we walk through dark times. We MUST DEPEND ON HIM to guide us. He must listen to his voice when he calls out to us so that we may also reach the final destination safe and secure. 

And the second verse we must read is, 

Isaiah 54:11-17 MSG

“Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied: I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise, Lay your foundations with sapphires, construct your towers with rubies, Your gates with jewels, and all your walls with precious stones. All your children will have GOD for their teacher— what a mentor for your children! You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble—nothing to fear! far from terror—it won’t even come close! If anyone attacks you, don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, nothing will come of it. I create the blacksmith who fires up his forge and makes a weapon designed to kill. I also create the destroyer— but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what GOD ’s servants can expect. I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.” GOD ’s Decree.”

Okay, let’s read the bold parts and focus our faith there. The first one says;

If anyone attacks you, don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, nothing will come of it.

If you are blaming God for this, STOP. He won’t ever ever send anything to hurt you. Everything He does and every order He gives, with His infinite wisdom, is always for your good. He always has your back! It is always planned and carefully designed by God for your greater good. We may not understand fully how, but He does! And our faith in this area has to be focused towards a positive perspective. This verse also points out that the attacks could be inevitable, but the second part says NOTHING WILL COME OF IT! You can now rest! Put your mind at ease. Even if something was to happen, God is still in control and has promised you that nothing will come of it! Focus your faith in this truth! 

The second part of this verse is my favorite! And most of you have heard this before. It says; 

but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.

I love it when scripture starts with a “BUT”! It implies that even though He created the destroyer, none of his focus, none of his skilled weaponry, none of his battle plans, no season he has chosen, no words he has spoken, no virus that has been created, would ever penetrate, hurt, or distort you. 

Have you ever watched Harry Potter? At the end of the series during the Battle at Hogwarts, all the powerful teachers gather around the school and created a dome of protection to prevent Voldemort and his followers from entering the school. This verse accompanied by your mustard seed is an impenetrable shield against the enemy. Unlike the dome at Hogwarts, this faith shield will never give in. It is your greatest promise of protection against the enemy. Any enemy. 

So have faith. Lift your head up and let your eye twitch a little. Eventually it will stop. Read and meditate on these verses over and over until they become truths that your mind believes. Ask God and the Holy Spirit to help you understand. 

Suggested Bible reading: 

The book of Job 

Suggested songs to listen:

Moving by Mainstream Worship

Spirit Lead Me by Influence Music 

Suggested Podcast:

The Voice Orlando – Quarantine Conversations on Youtube

Suggested question to discuss with a friend: 

What is it about this season that makes me unable to believe the promises of God? 

If you or anyone you know needs to talk, please DM The Voice Orlando on Instagram. We are here for you fam! Can’t wait to see you soon. It will be a huge celebration! 

Always Willing, 

Will Vargas

IG: @aeonvargas