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Usually when I preach, the Lord will give me the title, then I’ll gather from those Scriptures what he wants me to preach.

When I begin to think about what I was going to write about this week, I thought of this or that but nothing definite.

I sat at my computer to type it out, and the only thing I could think about writing is pretty much what I wrote about last time (What is the church to do in a time like this?) knowing that I couldn’t do that.

Then it came. The Scripture I believe the Lord would have me give you.

Being week nine or 10 into the coronavirus, it appears things are improving. I realize that while there are many people who believe things are getting better, there are just as many who disagree and that’s OK.

That’s one of the great things about America that most countries don’t enjoy: freedom of speech. We can agree to disagree and (should be able to) still get along with each other.

The general consensus of my family, friends and co-laborers in the kingdom is that nobody has ever been through anything like the coronavirus.

The speed of the changes that were made in everyone’s life is so hard to grasp. Everyone has been affected by the virus or the subsequent changes that have been made in each region of the country. Just how much of a “stand-still” the whole country came to is staggering.

So what is the Scripture the Lord brought to my mind? It’s Scripture that we’re all familiar with — a Scripture we use when it seems things are not going well in our personal lives.

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

During the time of this virus, so many are asking why is this happening? Why am I going through this? Why does it have to affect me and my family adversely?

There’s nothing wrong with those questions. I don’t believe it’s wrong to ask God, “Why is this happening?”

However, I always caution people, that while it may not be wrong to question God, you must trust him.

It’s when you ask “Why God?” but then you don’t trust him with the answer that you get in trouble. The word “trust” in verse 5 means to “have confidence in.”

When you ask God, make sure you have confidence in him, that you trust him.

Trust him that he knows the answers and will guide us through this as long as (say it with me) you trust him.

Don’t lean unto your “own understanding.” Lean on him. Trust him.

I don’t know about you, but it’s when I pray and ask God this or that, and then, instead of waiting on him for the answer, I try to take care of the situation myself that I get into big trouble.

I make things such a mess. Worse than when it started. Trust him.

I want to encourage you to do just that, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Don’t rely on your humanity. Rely on his righteousness and his power to lead you every step of the way.

According to the next verse, Proverbs 3:6, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

If I make him Lord, and make sure he stays my Lord, he will take care of me and everything that concerns me.

Stay safe. Be well. I speak the peace of God over you and your family not only during the pandemic but from this time forward.

By the Grace of God, we are going to make it through this. Trust him.

The Rev. Mike Smith is executive pastor at Church of the Living God on Franklin Avenue. He can be reached by calling 745-1865 or emailing pastormike@wincitycolg.com.