The Midnight Hour – Part 3
July 10, 2020, life changed. The fear I’d been living became reality. One person tested positive. Things were spiraling at a rapid pace. For one reason or another, we found ourselves with no overnight staff. Our office manager and activity director were filling in. Only one nurse remained. She was working days, not hours. It was a nightmare. Our dietary supervisor was working extra hours on our care team. There’s just too much to explain, and thinking about it feels tedious.
Randy and I were spending every waking minute trying to find staff to cover any shift. This went on for days and days. Randy was spending the night at Wedgewood in constant prayer, and I would stay home with Maria in constant prayer.
One night, Randy called me right around midnight. We began praying and praising. Randy was reminded of Paul and Silis in Jail praising the Lord in the midnight hour. I was reminded of a scripture God gave me at the beginning of lockdowns. I had been searching God’s word for relief & and God reminded me about “the power of praise.”
“The power of praise” …it just kept going through my mind…
I found myself reading 2 Chronicles 20. I started reading about a vast army that was coming against Jehoshaphat. The bible says Jehoshaphat feared.
He feared.
But he got the people of Judah together to seek The Lord. As Jehoshaphat prayed, he was telling God about all the things God had done for them…he named them in a list. I know he wasn’t telling God because God forgot…God already knows what He had done.
I believe Jehoshaphat was reminding himself and all the people what God had already done for them and who God is to build their own faith. As the people were gathered, The Spirit of God told the People… “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
He goes on to give them further instruction and says…”You will not have to fight this battle!” It doesn’t end there…God’s instructions were clear…
“Get in position, stand firm, and see the deliverance The Lord will give you.” Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and The Lord will be with you.” So, what does Jehoshaphat do? He has them get in position and appoints them to sing and praise! So, amongst all the singing and praising, The Lord set ambushes and the BATTLE WAS WON!
God knew what we were going to go through starting July 10th of 2020. He knew what was going to happen just around the first anniversary of my father’s death. He knew the trauma we were about to face. So, He gave me a scripture to stand on. He knew my faith would be tested. He knew my need for praising and singing. Did things change overnight? Did things align to perfection automatically? Not at all.
The next few years were extremely difficult. However, every single need we ever had God met. Every single need, every single time. It was never how I anticipated. It was always better. I’m reminded of one of my favorite scriptures… I was young and am now old, but I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or His children begging bread… I know this to be true. I’ve lived it. God is faithful. God is powerful. God shows up in the midnight hour. Singing and praising The Lord is essential in the fire. To God be the glory.