“Hope in an Unsafe World”
In the course of a couple of weeks, our lives have been rearranged and our sense of security is being challenged. Our government is instructing us to “practice social distancing” and to stay home, only go out if it is necessary. No doubt, life has changed even for those of you who stay home most of the time anyway. 
We have known that life is not safe, ever since we were children. We were warned by our parents not to talk to strangers. We have encountered people who were mean and circumstances that were not fair. Everyone has their own story. The difference today is the thing we are being asked to keep away from is a virus. We can’t see it, we have no idea where it can be and whether or not we actually have it or not. Something straight out of a psych-fi movie. How many of us have started taking our temperature, even though we feel fine? 
The Psalmist explains our circumstances quite well in Psalm 91 – 
* “the fowler’s snare” (Psalm 91:3)
* “deadly pestilence” (Psalm 91:3)
* “the terror of night” (Psalm 91:5)
* “the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5)
* “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness” 
(Psalm 91:6)
* “the plague that destroys at midday” (Psalm 91:6)
* “a thousand may fall at your side” (v. 7)
The psalmist could have been writing for the Lincoln County News today. Well, if he was, he would have included this,
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 
Psalm 91:12
Knowing Psalm 91:12 isn’t going to make the problem or the pain go away. The psalmist doesn’t have a magic wand with his words. Actually, he is a realist. Just like us, he wishes we could live in a world where we are free of pain, where viruses don’t exist, where marriages don’t have struggles, where children always behave, where everything is the way we think it should be. This side of heaven, the psalmist is reminding us, safety is not the absence of suffering, it is finding peace in the middle of it. 
 
‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world, Jesus said.   John 16:33
 
That is my prayer for you today. In the midst of this uncertainty, we can be certain in who is ultimately in control. He warned us that we would experience troubles and He told us to “take heart,” He’s got our backs. 
 
Let’s pray. 
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-91/