I read The Circle by Ted Dekker last year and did in fact review it on this blog this year. In book 1, Black, a virus is released upon the world – The raison Strain. Unlike Corona virus, its completely airborne and within the shortest possible time, everyone has caught it.
In Black, when a certain charming reporter first catches wind of the fast-spreading virus through the mouth of his scientist girlfriend, he jokes, “how bad is it? The Ebola?” To which he is told, “Even worse“.
Ebola.
But first,
Corona Virus.
Before Corona Virus hit Nigeria, I had began studying the book of Job. Reading through each verse of Job’s calamity and pondering.
Hold that thought still, and let’s discuss bedbugs as the prelude to this.
Bedbugs.
Some weeks ago, I obeyed the clarion call to serve my nation in the compulsory one year youth service, and I was thrust in the southern part of Nigeria – Rivers state.
In the capital city, my first night at my lodge was a living hell. I got awful reactions from bed bug bites; my body was swelling all over and itchy. I was most uncomfortable and the room was very hot. In the initial misguided notion that it was mosquito bites, I had slept (well, the closest I could come to sleeping) under a small mosquito net drawn over the slim mattress placed on the floor. It was the worst night I’d ever had. I couldn’t turn on my side without bodily discomfort. In accidentally touching the mosquito net in that heat, the itch would burn even worse. By the time we discovered they weren’t mosquito bites but bedbugs bites, my reaction was very far gone.
It all got settled finally. I was treated that night. Lacking the right drug and cream in the clinic, I was alternatively helped with drips and injections until the swellings were down the following morning.
Now, I write all of this to tell you when I read Job chapter 7 vs 4-6, I could picture it mentally. I could relate. The night of the bed bug infestation, I couldn’t sleep. One minute was like an hour. Four hours like twenty tortuous hours.
Here, Job speaks of his turmoils, worst being that his own days are spent without hope. I had hope. Follow Job:
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro until the dawning of the day. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and become loathsome. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and are spent without hope”.
I had nothing close to what Job went through. My flesh wasn’t coated with worms and clods of dust.
How did Job in the midst of what he went through (not for one night, but) for weeks on end, not curse God?
Or
How did Nigeria’s Igonoh hear the heart breaking words “Your blood tested positive for Ebola” and not curse God?
Dr Ada Igonoh was twenty eight; young, brilliant, beautiful, bright and full of ambition. How could she go into isolation and there watch people with the same condition she had, writhe in pain and bleed through their eyes, noses and mouths till they die.
These were people occupying the beds to her left and right, other health professionals like herself who got infected when striving to do their jobs. How?
Igonoh would come out to testify that her faith kept her through. Her faith. This is the subject matter.
So with Covid-19 pandemic ongoing, what if, my friend, the news wasn’t that anyone was recovering, what if the news wasn’t that there could be an escape from death? What if the situation is that you caught it?
What then? Do you curse God?
Selah.
Will you, when God appears to be silent about your matter, refuse to be silent to him?
Will you say like Job:
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause. Job 5:8.
For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace
Hebrews 13:9
Christian, at what point do you really curse God?
You can read Dr Ada Igonoh’s Story online and when you do, read carefully of how her exposure came from working professionally as a doctor. Experience through reading, the deserted ward she was placed in, read of her young husband and ask yourself at what point you would blame God.
We are a generation of them that seek Him even when his face appears to be (hidden).
Whether we have a reaction to bedbugs, or a physical ailment, or corona virus disease, or Ebola or the Raison Strain, we are convinced that no physical ailment can separate us from the Love of Christ.
Psalm 27:13,14:
” I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living
Wait on the lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the lord.
Job 19: 25-27
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
And that, friend, is a Christian’s response.
Have you read Dr Igonoh’s story? What’s your comment? Don’t forget to share this post with your friends.
As always,
your friend,
Debby.
Nice and edifying writeup as usual. ❤❤
Thanks so much. I’m glad you were blessed too
The Christian’s response…This is what I was discussing with someone few days ago.
Thanks for this
Thank you for reading too.
What drew me to this blog was that you have read circle by Ted dekker. Love all his books as they have great lessons for the Christian faith.
Sometimes troubles and affliction tend to bring out who we are inside and this leads us to see how much we need Him who lives in us.
Yep. Another Ted Dekker person.
Yeah, probably the best time to analyze your commitment is during a crisis
Thank you for this piece. God bless you. This is from a perspective I didn’t even think about. When COVID-19 started and it looked like it would come to Nigeria, fear was like the first reaction I had, which I constantly fought because it should not be. And I’ve moved from there to deliberately trusting because God is able to save and keep me and all that is in His hands. While also practicing precautionary measures and everyone around me.
But this has helped me to consider, what if I’m infected, or someone close is, would I curse God? Would I still turn to Him even in my affliction
My thoughts on Dr Ada, I recently just watched an interview where she shared her story. She said somehow she even knew that she wasn’t going to die, she didn’t believe she had done all she had to do on earth and so God was not ready to take her home. She had hope, kai, she started to take communion, was always listening to the word, said she had batteries that even if there was no light so that she listened round the clock. And she had support, family, her pastor vigils were held on her behalf. She even encouraged those at home and in the ward. They all started to take communion as well, even a Muslim patient, who also survived. It was one of hope, that God has us in his palm, and everything is to His glory
They that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Thank you again Debby.
You’ve got the right picture. Dr Ada’s story is the picture. It settles us with this confidence of a deeper Christian life. I’m learning even how to be that encouraging relative, friend, pastor to someone in those shoes.
Its lovely to have your thoughts.
Thank you Dhebbie for the light you constantly shine to many through this platform. In times like this, people are naturally predisposed to respond as humans and give in to fear. But with write ups like this, our thoughts and minds are inclined to God’s word and we are redirected to the right path. God bless you.
This is a blessing. The voice of the believer speaks of God’s goodness and of trust in our ever-living Redeemer. We are a generation of those who seek Him and see His face. And thank God, His disposition is always to do us good, even when we might not realize it.
Thank you for this blessing.
This is insightful Debby ?
Thank you and I’m glad you think so
Lord, that we be like Jesus everywhere!
I never knew that Debby was so sweet a blogger. I never knew that pressing her phone was for evangelism. Many things we dont know! I saw the swells on Debby’s hands, never knew it could be used to speak words of encouragement like this. No one is all-knowing but God. That we will rest in this confidence. That though we may not know it all, we know that all is for his glory. That wanting to know it all will not weigh us down but that we just rest in this knowledge; HE IS GOOD AND HIS MERCIES ENDURES FOREVER!
Thanks Debby.
Thank you, Sola for your kind words. All glory to God. HIS mercies endure forever.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.