Dear Lord,

I had my heart set in anticipation of certain events that were to take place on certain days in Idaho Falls, and now this stupid coronavirus has collapsed the materializing of all these celebrations that I had fixed on specific days.

Lord, can I just vent in your presence like Elijah or Jonah?

I think of the phrase in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

I have been mourning the death of my pursuits of my plans on my calendar. I know, patient and loving Father, that it is a lot of I’s and my’s. Wean me from these childish pronouns in my vocabulary. Free me from my stinking thinking.

It is uncannily amazing, dear God, the number of phone texts that I have been receiving today from brothers and sisters-in-Christ who were not even aware of the downward sloping in my moping. You are merciful with your Idahoan son.

Lord God, I ask that you bring spiritual healing to the community of Montpelier down in Bear Lake County, Idaho.  I thank you that our bottom-three-southeastern Idaho counties of Oneida, Franklin and Bear Lake have not experienced even one publicly confirmed case of the coronavirus. But Father, I believe that because of the shelter-at-home order and other factors in people’s lives, mental depression has been severe for some people.

My heart is grieved to hear that the little town of Montpelier, Idaho has had 5 suicides since April 4, 2020, and with two more under investigation.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Rescue eastern Idahoans out of the dark rabbit holes of despair.

God, please bless the police in eastern Idaho as they respond to calls related to domestic violence and the requests for wellness visits. You see how it is happening right in my own neighborhood.

Gracious Healer of my thoughts, I agree with the ancient psalmist,

“Why are you cast down, O my soul! And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:6-8).

God, still my heart in you.  You have overseen the Jewish people for 3,000 years through great triumphs and cataclysmic tragedies.  You smile down upon Israel today in their 72^nd anniversary as a nation. Some of them remember you today in their land.

And certainly, I will praise you on this very day in Idaho.  As my co-shepherd, Warren Cuppy texted and reminded me about you:

“Your presence and movement through SE Idaho are not held at bay by any pandemic.  Your perfect plan will be accomplished.  You are not isolated in heaven, nor cowering in fear.  You know what You are doing.”

So, whether I am wandering through the lava fields, standing on top of Menan Butte, hiking in Kelly’s Canyon, or standing under the waterfalls of Falls Creek, your lovingkindness and mercy are the two hound dogs of heaven pursuing me every day and all the rest of the days of my life in eastern Idaho.  Thank you.

God, you are good.  You are the perfect light in my short-sightedness.  And you are perfect love in my isolation.

In Jesus’ name,

Todd