Being a baby boomer, I grew up hearing about bomb shelters. Although I was not alive during World War 2, I remember being afraid at times because of nuclear war talk. (Keep in mind that history is not my thing, so if I bungle this a bit, please forgive. What you are about to read is my memory and understanding.) Russia was the enemy. They hated the U.S., and we hated them. The nightly news was about how bad they were and all that they were doing to their people as well as the nuclear arsenal they were building to destroy their enemies.

Although it was not common, occasionally my family would visit someone and they would have an underground room, a shelter. Many times, the rooms were cellars, but I have a memory or two of bomb shelters at people’s homes. After the devastation that took place in Hiroshima, people were looking for a place to hide, seek refuge, in case another atomic bomb came.  The pictures I have seen recently show these bomb shelters set up for people to live in until the fall out settled down. Basic essentials were in place to sustain a family. Shelves of canned goods, bedding, and clothes all in a small underground room waiting for people to come and find refuge.

During the last few weeks both the U.S. and the world have been facing the COVID-19 pandemic. From the way the 24-hour news cycle talks, it’s the new atomic bomb. People everywhere are afraid. Mayors, governors, and government officials are using words we have not heard in a long time. TAKE SHELTER. BE PREPARED. WE HOPE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DEFEAT THIS INVISIBLE ENEMY. People are panicking.  Many of us have never heard these words before. Stores are closed. People are working from home because they are afraid to go to work and get infected with coronavirus. Schools are canceled. Day cares are closed. The booming economy has come to a halt…instantly, literally overnight. People are losing their jobs. Stock market crashed. Hospitals are canceling elective surgeries.  And if that is not enough, we go to the grocery store and for the first time in my memory, shelves are EMPTY. Many supplies that we “need” are no longer on the shelves at stores. Things we consider essential are missing. People are stocking up on medicines, canned goods, and dried foods…some are stocking up ammunition.  All because they are hoping to be prepared for what danger is before them. The whole world is afraid. Afraid of the what is coming next.

All of this got me thinking during my quiet time with God. My Shelter is God. My Provider is God. My Hope is God.  May the scriptures below encourage you today as we all face this new bomb, COVID-19.

SHELTER

• Psalm 62:5-8  I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for him to rescue me. Only God is my Savior, and he will not fail me.  For he alone is my safe place. His wrap-around presence always protects me
  as my champion defender. There’s no risk of failure with God! So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me?  God’s glory is all around me!
  His wrap-around presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength.  Join me, everyone! Trust only in God every moment!
  Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him.
  Believe me when I tell you—he will help you!
• Psalm 9:9  All who are oppressed may come to you as a shelter in the time of trouble, a perfect hiding place.
•  Psalm 27:5  In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me,
  for he hides me there in his holiness.
  He has smuggled me into his secret place,
  where I’m kept safe and secure
•  Psalm 121:5  Jehovah himself will watch over you; he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.

 PROVIDER

•  Matthew 6:11  We acknowledge you as our Provider of all we need each day.
• Psalm 84:11  For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!
•  Matthew 6:25-33  “This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing? “Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? ²⁷ So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? “And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, ²⁹ and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! ³⁰ So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom^[aa] and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.^[ab] 34 Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time.^[ac] Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
• Philippians 4:19 I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through the Anointed One, Jesus Christ!

 HOPE

• Psalm 25:21 Your perfection and faithfulness are my bodyguards, for you are my hope and I trust in you as my only protection.
•  Psalm 27:14 Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!
•  Psalm 91:1-2 When you sit enthroned^[a] under the shadow of Shaddai,^[b]
  you are hidden^[c] in the strength of God Most High.
  ² He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me,
  the only God for me, and my great confidence.

Blessings – Cherie