The pandemic spreads an existential feeling of unsafety, which registers with the neurons around your heart, lungs, and viscera. It alters your nervous system, changing the way you see and perceive threat – David Brooks, columnist

My friend Mitzi’s daughter felt anxious when notified by her company they were planning a conference call to discuss layoffs. How would she provide for herself and her kids?

As they talked on the phone and prayed, Kim received an out-of-state call from an unfamiliar number. When she answered it was the head guy of the large company for which she worked.

He said, “Kim, I don’t want you worrying all day. I’m calling to say you’re safe.”

That may be the fastest response to prayer my friends ever received!

What comfort in those words, “You’re safe.”

It echoes Psalm 91:1-3. When we run to the Lord God Almighty we find shelter and safety in his arms.

Mitzi’s instinct to immediately pray says it is a priority for her. St. Paul told us to devote ourselves to prayer in all circumstances. That can sound intimidating, as if we can’t measure up.

It is surrounded, however, by other guidelines, like guide ropes on a steep path. There’s no social distancing between Bible verses, yet Scripture sounds unrealistic when we pull out a verse and ask it to stand alone.

Here’s more of 1 Thessalonians 5, paraphrased and abbreviated from the NIV: “Since we’re children of the day:

• let us be self-controlled,
• wear faith and love as a breastplate,
• and the hope of salvation as our helmet.

“Our Lord Jesus Christ died for us so whether we’re awake or asleep, we live with him. Therefore:

• Encourage one another.
• Build each other up.
• Live in peace with each other.
• Be patient with everyone.
• Always try to be kind to everyone.
• Be joyful always;

“15:7 Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

• “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire
• Test everything.
• Hold on to the good.
• Avoid every kind of evil.”

Practicing these disciplines helps us slowly mature into a lifestyle of prayer.

What is our source of power? God himself.

Paul closed this part of his letter with: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The God of peace is on our side.

One morning I had an image of continual prayer. There was frost on the neighbor’s dark roof. Within an hour of sunshine it was gone, momentarily humidifying the air. In contrast, I want prayers to constantly humidify the air with the dew of God’s Spirit, a transparent canopy through which light shines.

Another Kim, a book group friend, gave me a thoughtful volume, Prayers of Comfort & Hope. Afterward, someone asked me to pray for a woman; when I opened the gift book the prayer before me exactly addressed the crisis this stranger faced.

Accident? No more than the answer that came to Mitzi’s prayer for her daughter.

Of course, prayer doesn’t always happen that way.

God is our burden-bearer, walking with us the hard roads some are called to walk. On good days, these make us stronger people of faith, but troubles drain us. That’s true for cancer, other diseases and especially today’s pestilence with it’s terrible toll in deaths and economic and social suffering.

Sometimes hearing good news makes us wonder why the other guy received it and we didn’t. That’s because of a stinking little green demon called envy. She and I are well acquainted but I won’t waste anymore time on her here, right now.

I don’t have an answer for our suffering economy or families without a paycheck, except that maybe we’re all part of the answer. We can choose, as restrictions ease down the road, to support local stores, restaurants, nurseries and other businesses.

I was at someone’s house a dozen years ago. A package arrived, chock full of toilet paper. The family was too busy to go shopping and with a toddler needed this necessity! We all need a stock of TP, but when we can shop locally it will help our neighbors.

The important thing is keeping our eyes on God, who keeps us in his sight, like a mother hen attending her chicks.

Safe in eternal ways that we may not be able to grasp, but that’s not what’s important.

Neither is seeing evidence at this moment. That’s what faith is for.

The great Lover of our souls says, “My child, don’t worry. I am with you always and forever.”

All will be well.