A Very Present Help In Trouble

A Very Present
Help In Trouble
Calming Storms and Opening Pathways
Providing Refuge and Light in Darkness
M arilyn I. Ja mes

Charleston, SC
www.PalmettoPublishing.com
A Very Present Help in Trouble:
Calming Storms and Opening Pathways
Providing Refuge and Light in Darkness
Copyright © 2021 by Marilyn I. James
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken
from the King James and New King James Versions
of the Bible Copyright 1997, Word Publishing.
All rights reserved
No portion of this book may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
by any means–electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording,
or other–except for brief quotations in printed reviews,
without prior permission of the author.
Acknowledgements
Thank you God for being our refuge. And, sincere thanks
and gratitude to all medical and healthcare professionals,
caregivers, frontline workers, scientists and researchers for
providing selfless and determined help and support during this
coronavirus pandemic.
Also, special appreciation to family and friends for your continuous
love and support in this endeavor.
May this book be an inspiration and guide during this time of
trouble.
–Marilyn James
Printed in the United States of America.
First Edition
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9890128-9-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-63837-288-2

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................
ix
Chapter 1: Hello God-Please Help Us!...................................... 1
Chapter 2: Storms, Viruses, and Pandemics................................ 7
Chapter 3: The Way Maker........................................................ 15
Chapter 4: God Our Refuge........................................................ 25
Chapter 5: Light in the Darkness................................................ 35
Chapter 6: Persevere and Encourage Yourself............................. 49
Afterword..................................................................................... 65
Bibliography................................................................................. 71
Notes............................................................................................ 75
About the Author........................................................................ 79

Introduction
Trouble and trials or “storms of life” are everywhere. They
affect us from birth till death. These storms may be simple
or complex; and can range from a childish peeve to a global
pandemic.
During trouble, we often need immediate help. In seeking
help: A drowning man may catch at a straw. A cancer patient
may explore alternative treatment. A kidnapped victim may take
flight at the first opening. An offender may request a second
chance. A person in a burning building may cry out for help or
jump to escape.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted a
global need for immediate help. In Psalm 46 God promises to
be our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Key in
this promise is that God is very present when providing help in
time of trouble. The Hebrew word for “present” can mean to be
found, discovered, to be encountered, recognized, to be enough.
When we are in our darkest moment, and feel we can no longer
go on, God reveals himself to us as expressed in verses 5 thru 7
of Psalm 46.
5
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God
shall help her, and that right early.
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
6
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he
uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our
refuge.
God can and will be all of these to believers in time of
trouble. CHAPTER 1
***
Hello God-
Please Help Us!
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1‐2
x

Heavenly Touch
One of the thieves that was hung on the cross with Jesus said
to Him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will
be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42‐43. These words may sound
strange to the ordinary person because to humans, everyday problems
are solved using logic. So when an unexpected result occurs
it leaves us speechless, and to our earthly sense of reasoning think
there is no way the outcome should have happened. In that instant
maybe we feel like Johnny Nash and believe, “there are more questions
than answers; and the more I find out the less I know.”
Serendipitous manifestations invoke questions and thoughts
of, “how is that possible? Is this for real?” Matthew 8:23‐27 and
Mark 4:35‐41, give an account of another incident with a ‘heavenly
touch.’
The disciples were experiencing a storm during which they
cried out, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to
them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose
and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that
even winds and sea obey him?”
God intervening in times of trouble is not new. On September
11, 2001, the United States experienced a catastrophic storm in
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Hello God-Please Help Us
the form of a terrorist attack. A total of 2,977 people were killed,
excluding the perpetrators, and more than 6,000 were injured.
Amidst the destruction, there are many stories of God’s very
present help and rescue. ABC News [1] reported on a few of them.
Florence Jones [2] was working for Baseline Financial on
September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center when planes
piloted by terrorists plowed into the two towers in downtown
Manhattan. Jones was on the 78th floor of the South Tower.
Jones says, “I remember distinctly saying what a beautiful day
this started out to be and it descended into hell on Earth,” “I
really thought the end of the island was just going to fall into the
East River.” Of the last 25 people out of the South Tower that
day, she was No. 18.
Jay Jonas [3] was a captain for the Fire Department City of
New York on September 11, 2001. He was among 14 people
– 12 of them firefighters – who found themselves trapped on a
stairwell between the second and fourth floors after the North
Tower had collapsed. Mr. Jonas explained that he and the others
waited three hours in the darkness until the dust and smoke
settled. Then they slowly crossed a three-story-deep trench of
twisted metal. He said, “If you look at the chain of events that
happened that day for us,” “It is very unlikely that we would
survive that but we did. I look at the footage of the building
coming down and I shake my head. You know, I don’t know
how I survived that.”
Sheila Moody [4] , suffered third-degree burns to her hands and
injuries to her face when a plane was flown into the Pentagon.
It was her second day on the job and Moody was sitting in her
cubicle when the plane hit, sending a fireball flying past her. “I
should have been consumed immediately from either the fire,
the smoke, the fumes, the heat,” she said. “I was spared.”
Jonathan Judd and Fred Eichler [5] were two strangers stuck
in the offices of Eichler’s insurance company on September 11,
2001 after the first plane hit the North Tower. Judd had gotten
off the elevator on the 83rd floor at the moment of impact.
He ran into the first office he could find, where he encountered
Eichler, who told him what had just happened. Judd said, “All I
remember from that day was walking down the steps with Fred
and saying I was 36, ‘I finally got married and I finally had a
baby and now I’m going to die.’ ... I was completely in a panic. ...
It was horrible but he was comforting me the whole way down.”
After the 9/11 terror attack, Dolly Parton verbalized the brokenness
and confusion everybody must have felt with an inspirational
appeal in song called Hello God. [6] The lyrics plead:
Hello God, are you out there?
Can you hear me, are you listenin’ anymore? Hello God,
if we’re still on speakin’ terms Can you help me like before?
I have questioned your existence, My resistance leaves me cold
Can you help me go the distance? Hello God, hello, hello
This old world has gone to pieces Can we fix it, is there time?
Hate and violence just increases We’re so selfish, cruel and blind
We fight and kill each other
In your name, defending you
Do you love some more than others? We’re so lost and confused
Hello God, are you out there?
Can you hear us, are you listenin’ anymore? Hello God, if we’re
still on speakin’ terms Can you help us like before?
Oh, the free will you have given We have made a mockery of
This is no way to be livin’,
We’re in great need of your love Hello God
Hello God, can you grant us Love enough to make amends
(Hello God) Is there still a chance That we could start again
Hello God, we’ve learned our lesson Dear God, don’t let us go
More than ever
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Hello God, hello, hello
Hello God, we really need you We can’t make it without you
(Hello God) We beseech you In the name of all that’s true Hello
God, please forgive us For we know not what we do
Hello God, give us one more chance to prove ourselves to you
Hello, God
The events of 9/11/01 are reminiscent of our present day storms:
political turmoil, distrust of law enforcement, Black Lives Matter
protests, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, and pestilences including
the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Just like Dolly Parton,
people are praying, Hello God, are you out there, are you listening
anymore? Why are we going through these crises? Is there a
way out, hope, shelter? Is there light in the darkness?
Beyond our reasoning and understanding God is answering yes,
and saying, “Look to me.” “I am very present with all the help
you ever need.”
CHAPTER 2
***
Storms, Viruses,
and Pandemics
Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you
1 Peter 4:12
6

EXPERIENCE
WITH STORMS
Growing up on a Caribbean island, I have experienced many
storms; rain storms, thunderstorms, and hurricanes. Some
of these storms seemed to come out of nowhere. One minute it
would be sunny and bright, and next utter darkness. The hurricane
force storms were very intense with torrential rainfall, gusty
winds, crackling thunder, and lightning strikes. Storms with the
right atmospheric conditions can rapidly intensify and turn into
devastating hurricanes. Living in the United States I have had
my fair share of thunderstorms, and the effects of hurricanes like
Katrina, Sandy, and Ike.
Calling to God in the midst of storms has been instrumental
in our safe-keeping. Because of God’s love and very present
help, he is able to provide us with wisdom to act, and he sends
people to guide and direct us on ways to stay safe. For example,
knowing when to board up properties, go to shelters, seek higher
ground, and acquire essential supplies and foodstuff.
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Storms, Viruses, and Pandemics
A Look at Storms
Storms are no respecter of persons or places. Storms have ravaged
both sea and land. The hurricane of 1780 [1] killed approximately
27,000 people. This hurricane predates modern storm- tracking
technology, but it is widely accepted to be the deadliest storm
in history. Making landfall on October 10, 1780, the Great
Hurricane devastated Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia and the
rest of the Caribbean, causing incalculable damage and claiming
more lives than any other storm in recorded history.
In modern times, Hurricane Katrina [2] which went through New
Orleans on September 12, 2005 is categorized as the worst and
costliest hurricane to strike the United States mainland. Katrina
is blamed for an estimated 1,833 deaths after levees broke and
flooded New Orleans, and massive storm surges inundated coastal
Mississippi and Alabama. Neighborhoods were flooded with oil
and water two weeks after Hurricane Katrina went through New
Orleans.
The dictionary describes a storm [3] as any disturbed state of a body
especially affecting its surface, and it may be marked by significant
disruptions. The global coronavirus pandemic of the past months
can be described as one of the world’s deadliest storms of life.
A Look at Viruses and Pandemics
Pandemics are not only occurring during our times. The Center
for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the 1918 influenza pandemic
[4] was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was
caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. There is
no universal consensus regarding where the virus originated, as
it spread worldwide during 1918‐1919. In the United States,
it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918. It
is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the
world’s population became infected with this virus. The number
of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide
with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. Over the
past 5 decades the world has faced several viruses and pandemics
including:
Swine Flu
The H1N1 swine flu epidemic was first discovered in Mexico
in April 2009 before it spread to many countries of the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), swine
flu is one of the most dangerous viruses [5] because it has the ability
to change rapidly, escaping the formation of antibodies in
targeted individuals, where the virus modifies itself slightly every
two to three years. When the infected bodies begin to create
immunity to it, the virus mutates and manages to withstand the
immune system, causing a pandemic sweeping the world every
several years. In 2010, WHO announced that 18,449 people
died as a result of the epidemic and a June 2012 study published
by a group of doctors, researchers, and organizations estimated
the death of 284,000 people, including 201,000 deaths due to
respiratory failures, and 83,000 deaths due to cardiovascular and
blood vessels diseases.
Ebola
In December 2013, a young boy named Emil Omono died in
the village of Miliano, in Guinea. His death gained much more
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Storms, Viruses, and Pandemics
significance when Emil was named the first patient of what was
later known to be the worst outbreak of Ebola [6] in history. The
highly pathogenic Ebola virus spread rapidly across Guinea, to
neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone, to be known as the “Ebola
virus in West Africa” outbreak. The outbreak almost caused the
collapse of the economies of the three countries. During that
year, about 6,000 people died from the virus.
In 2018, the virus caused the death of more than 2,200 people,
out of nearly 3,300 confirmed cases, in the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
Zika
Although Zika is not a deadly virus, the World Health
Organization has identified the virus and the resulting fever as
an epidemic, given its relationship to congenital malformation in
newborns, a condition that came to be known as “microcephaly”.
The Zika virus [7] first appeared in French Polynesia in 2013 and
then in Brazil in 2015. In early 2016, the spread of the virus
reached its highest level in the history of the Americas before
going viral in other countries of South America, Central America
and the Caribbean. On February 1, 2016, the World Health
Organization declared a global emergency due to this virus. In
2016, it was announced that there is no preventive treatment
or vaccination against the Zika virus, which is spread by yellow
fever mosquitoes.
Corona
In 2012, coronavirus, which became known as the “Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome” (MERS) or “Acute Pneumonia Syndrome”
appeared. [8] According to statistics published on April 24, 2014 by
the World Health Organization, 254 confirmed cases were diagnosed
in the world, of which 93 died. As of July 2015, cases of
coronavirus associated with respiratory syndrome in the Middle
East have been reported in more than 21 countries.
Everyday storms of life are troublesome, but when the new
coronavirus struck, the world was in big trouble. COVID-19
exploded like a category 5 hurricane. It caught people worldwide
off-guard. The virus has affected millions, with many losing
their lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) in providing
a timeline on COVID-19 says on December 31 Wuhan
Municipal Health Commission, China, reported a cluster of
cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A novel coronavirus
was eventually identified. Deeply concerned both by the
alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels
of inaction, on March 11, 2020 WHO made the assessment that
COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. On January 20,
2020 the United States of America (USA) reported its first confirmed
case of the novel coronavirus. This was the first case in
the WHO Region of the Americas. [9]
By the end of March, cases were confirmed in all fifty U.S.
states, the District of Columbia, and all inhabited U.S. territories
except American Samoa. A second rise in infections began
in June 2020, following relaxed restrictions in several states.
According to Johns Hopkins University, in early August, the U.S.
topped five million confirmed cases, [10] and by mid-August, the
U.S. was doing the most per-capita testing of any country. As of
June 2021 reporting, there were over 600,000 COVID-19-related
deaths in the U.S.
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CHAPTER 3
***
The Way Maker
Jesus said to him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me
John 14:6

Calming Storms and
Opening Pathways
During and shortly after storms people tend to become fearful,
and anxious and it can be difficult to comfort them or
project hope. Many cocoon themselves trying to assess situations,
find meaning, and decide if the experiences are part of their life’s
journey. For example, in the case of the coronavirus, pertinent
questions include: Why are my family and friends dying from
this virus? Are we dealing with a natural or manmade virus? How
did people handle and survive plagues of the past? What successful
approach to overcoming diseases have Believers adopted over
time that can be helpful for me?
It is in these difficult and perplexing situations that God
intervenes to calm the raging storms and open new pathways.
During captivity of the children of Israel, God sent the first nine
plagues to give Pharaoh an option to let God’s people go, but
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he did not budge. The tenth
plaque was different. God said, “For I will pass through the land
of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt
I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.”. Exodus 12:12. To the
children of Israel, he said, “And the blood shall be to you for a
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
The Way Maker
token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood,
I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to
destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”. Exodus 12:13.
Placing the blood above their doors did not save the children
of Israel that night. God did, because the power of life and
death is in God’s hand. All God required of them was obedience.
God is saying the same to his creation today. He wants us to
trust in the name of Jesus Christ whose shed blood conquered
death and the grave to redeem us from sin. During this time of
plagues, God wants us to accept what has been gained through
the blood of Christ and look to Him. God says in 1 Peter 4:13,
“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings;
that, when his gory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy.” God is our very present help in trouble.
This reminded me of something a friend shared with me a
few years ago. At the time, she was the mother of two young
daughters and pregnant with the third child when she and her
partner broke up. Things were tough and she was struggling.
One day it got so bad that she decided to walk to the local grocery
store to see if they would give her some items on credit. On
the way, a Pastor from a Community Church stopped her and
said the Lord told him to bring her a care packet. My friend
said she knew of the Pastor in the community, but she did not
attend his church nor know him very well. At first she hesitated
but eventually she took the 2 bags he offered and thanked him.
When she got back home, my friend found all that was needed
to care for her family for quite some time. God knew her needs
and sent help in her time of trouble.
Hope in the Midst of Storms
When I first heard the news that China started the coronavirus;
I got a bit concerned. You see, my first cousin and her young
son live in China. But there was no need to worry. Zhucheng
Weifang in Shandong Province China where they reside, was
safe. My cousin explained that the authorities cordoned off traffic
flow to and from Zhucheng Weifang. No one entered nor left
the Province, social distancing was implemented and face masks
were worn. The community looked out for each other. Citizens
were able to go to the grocery and other places to buy needed
foodstuff and supplies. Later on I learned from my cousin how
she got to be in Zhucheng Weifang instead of Bejing. When
she was offered the position in China, as a mother she wanted
the best environment for her young son. She was advised that
Zhucheng Weifang was the place to go. My cousin is thanking
God for opening that door and making a way for her.
Clearing Unseen Pathways
During our lifetime, we may experience problems that seem
hopeless. But God has unique ways of solving these problems
which may seem unpredictable and illogical. Being an omnipotent
and omniscient God, He is all powerful and all knowing.
God works beyond our earthly realm and often our minds cannot
completely understand everything about the Creator of the
Universe. We only understand what is revealed to us through
the Bible and by special insight. In Isaiah 55, God says, “For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow
from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,
and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the
sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
The Way Maker
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it
shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it.”
The bible is filled with accounts of God being very present
and clearing unseen pathways:
Abraham and the Ram
Abraham was given an alternative path when he took Isaac, his
only son up to the mountain to sacrifice him before God. The
Bible says in “Genesis 22:9‐14 that, “Abraham built an altar
and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of
the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to
slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from
heaven. “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am”, he replied; “do not
lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him.”
“Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld
from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there
in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over
and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of
his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord will provide.
(El- Shaddai).”
Crossing the Red Sea
After God used Moses to negotiate with Pharaoh to set the children
of Israel free, during their exodus from Egypt, God opened
a pathway for them to cross the Red Sea. In Exodus chapter 14
God spoke to Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. “And
the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that
night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon
the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their
right hand, and on their left.” The children of Israel crossed
safely. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of
the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea
shore.
The Woman, and the Pot of Oil
In 2 Kings 4:1‐7 it tells of a woman who had lost her husband,
and her creditors wanted to turn her two sons into bondsmen.
She cried to the prophet Elisha for help. The prophet asked her
what he could do for her, and what did she have in her house?
She informed him that all she had was a pot of oil. Elisha told
her to go to her neighbors and borrow lots of empty vessels, and
upon her return to shut the door and together with her sons to
pour oil from the pot into all the vessels, and set each one aside
as they were filled.
When all the empty vessels were filled from the one pot of
oil, the prophet Elisha told her to go sell the oil, pay her debt,
and live for herself and her children for the rest of their lives.
The Fishermen
According to Luke 5:1‐12 the fishermen Simon, and his partners
had fished all night but caught nothing. Then Jesus came.
After teaching the people, Jesus told Simon, “Launch out into
the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And when they had
done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was
breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to
come and help them.
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
The Way Maker
And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to
sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees,
saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he
and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish
which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons
of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
God is still calming storms and opening pathways for people
today. Here are a few stories.
Kechi Okwuchi
On December 10, 2005 God was a very present help and made a
way for Kechi Okwuchi. [1] At the age of 16 she was miraculously
one of the two survivors in the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145
from Abuja that crash-landed at Port Harcourt International
Airport, Nigeria. Kechi suffered third-degree burns to most of
her body, and her chances of survival were slim. But with faith
Kechi made it through the difficult journey of burns recovery,
and found her true voice after her accident. Today, Kechi is a
motivational speaker who uses music to inspire others. She was
a finalist in the twelfth season of America’s Got Talent in 2017.
Sama Conteh
On March 29, God was a very present help to Sama Conteh. [2]
The mental health nursing manager from South London fell ill
with a severe case of COVID-19. He spent almost three months
in hospital and was not expected to survive. When he awoke
in a hospital bed, he assumed it was later the same day that his
wife had taken him to the hospital. It took a doctor to tell him
the truth. “He said to me: ‘You’ve been lying there in a coma
for 61 days.’ I said: ‘Wow, what?’ It was the biggest shock of
my life,” says Sama. “I’m a healthcare professional and I know
healthcare professionals don’t show emotion because it’s bad for
the patients, but he was in tears,” says Sama. “He said: ‘I can’t
believe I’m seeing you. Whatever God you’re serving, keep serving
that God, because to be honest, it’s not our medication [that
saved you]. We’ve done our best but it’s a miracle you came back
because we were going to switch that machine off.” Sama is back
with his wife and daughters; something he describes as “a joy.”
Titou Phommachanh
In March 2020, God was a very present help and made a way
for Titou Phommachanh, [3] a father of three daughters from
Manassas Virginia. Titou and his family had taken a trip to New
York City the weekend before he developed flu-like symptoms.
He tested negative for influenza but a week later, showed he
had contracted the novel coronavirus. Mr. Phommachanh was
put in a medically induced coma at Fairfax Inova Hospital. and
awoke 3 weeks later talking after his wife says he was “knocking
on death’s door.” His recovery is considered nothing short of a
miracle. (ABC News, March 2020).
My Personal Experience
In April 2008, God was a very present help and made a way for
me when I suffered an autoimmune crisis, and near death experience.
I did not immediately understand why I had to take that
journey, but the experience confirmed an important point. Being
a believer does not exempt one from problems or storms of life.
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Yes, I felt pain, worry, and distress at times, but I also felt an
inner peace, and was compelled to hold on to Proverbs 3:5‐6,
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths.” I feel blessed today that God by his
infinite grace and mercy made a way for me by placing me in
the care of competent, professional personnel at Georgetown
Medical Center. He restored my life and set me on a path to do
his will.
For every problem, predicament, trial, or difficulty we face,
God is ever present and has a solution in sight. We just must
remain faithful and obedient. The Apostle Paul understood that
God is in charge. He writes in Phil. 2:13‐14, “It is God who is
at work in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
CHAPTER 4
***
God Our Refuge
For in the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in his dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred
tent and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:5
24

Safety Net
When we face storms, several things are needed. Adequate
supplies of water, nonperishable foodstuff, sleeping bags,
blankets, batteries, and medicine, can make a storm a bit easier
to weather. Of all the things needed, shelter or safe space is key.
Psalm 46 assures us of God being our Refuge (Shelter), and very
present help in trouble. Refuge in God is a safety net for those
times when we fall, injure ourselves, get into trouble, or need a
way out.
Noah and Family found refuge in God. As recorded in Genesis
chapters 6 to 8, the earth was corrupt in God’s sight. The people
had become corrupt in their ways and was full of violence.
God decided to destroy the earth by a flood. Noah, a righteous
man, blameless among the people of his time, and who walked
faithfully with God was charged with building an ark. He did
everything he was assigned. When the flood waters came, Noah
and his wife, his sons, and his sons’ wives found refuge in the ark
until the waters subsided and dry land appeared.
Rahab knows about seeking refuge in God. The story is told in
Joshua chapter 2 and Hebrews 11:31 about Rahab, a well-known
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God Our Refuge
prostitute, who lived in a house on the walls of Jericho during
a time when the world was changing. When two Israeli spies
crossed into Jericho to size up the land, Rahab hid them and
also helped them to escape on a promise that her family would
be spared and not killed. God honored Rehab’s request. By faith
she was sheltered, rescued, and redeemed. Her life was transformed,
and she became part of the family tree of Jesus.
When I read Psalm 46 I glean from the passage that life is no
walk in the park. Perplexing issues and fear caused by a multitude
of natural and manmade problems, national and global disasters,
and civic and politically charged climate, that cause headaches
and heartaches will arise. But in the midst of the calamity, God
promises his presence. I am sure with some reflection you may
be able to come up with a few occasions when God has been
your source of refuge. Of course, most current for all of us, is his
protection and safekeeping during the coronavirus pandemic.
A preacher in explaining God being our refuge quoted writing
from the walls inside the Auschwitz Concentration Camp
as follows: “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I
believe in Love, even when I am alone. I believe in God, even
when he is silent. Even in the midst of tragic circumstances God
is still present, even when it is hard to see or perceive him.”
Why Did David Write Psalm 46?
According to Matthew Henry [1] a 17th and early 18th Century
minister of the Gospel, Psalm 46 may have been composed after
David defeated the enemies of ancient Israel from surrounding
lands. The Psalm, a song of triumph, praises God for being a
source of power and salvation in times of trouble. But prior to
this event, according to Joshua 20, God himself made the idea of
refuge important by having Moses establish 6 “cities of refuge.”
They were Kadesh in Naphtali, Shechem in West Manasseh,
Hebron in Judah, Golan in East Manasseh, Ramoth in Gilead
of Gad, and Bezer in Rueben. The 6 Cities of Refuge were
allotted to the Levite tribe in the Old Testament that provided
asylum for perpetrators of unintentional manslaughter. Divinely
appointed and subject to Mosaic Law, the cities offered offenders
refuge and protection from retribution of the avenging family
until their case went to trial.
Relevance of the Cities of Refuge to Psalm 46
Biblical Scholars believe the cities of refuge can be viewed as a
foreshadow of God’s plan for our salvation through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6:18 states, “that by two immutable things, in which it
was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation,
who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”
This means that by shedding His blood, Jesus offers humankind
protection from eternal death and separation from God if we confess
our sins and take refuge in Him. Why? Because as confirmed
in Psalm 34:22, “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.”
The word Refuge is defined as: Shelter or protection from danger
or trouble; A place of shelter, protection, or safety; Anything to
which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape. An expanded version
of an article by Danielle Bernock [2] explains four ways that God
is our refuge.
1. Refuge is Offered
When someone makes the decision to follow Jesus, he or she
receives the refuge of God. This refuge is called salvation. It
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is through the refuge of salvation that we are rescued from the
dangerous kingdom of darkness and brought into the protection
of the kingdom of light. Psalm 103:4 says, “He keeps me from
the grave and blesses me with love and mercy.” Psalm 91 says,
covers a multitude of ways that God gives protection to those
who belong to him.
Jesus provides safety from the devil’s claim that we deserve to
go to hell. Jesus warns us in John 16:33, “I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
God is our refuge when we belong to him.
2. Seek and Find Refuge
The cities of refuge that God had Moses set up had to be sought
out. Knowing the cities were available wasn’t enough. Anyone
in need had to go there. Likewise, we can seek and find refuge
in God. We can go to him in prayer, we can seek refuge in his
word, we can find peace, and we can find hope. In prayer, we
find the refuge of comfort as we commune with God who loves
us. We find instruction that leads us away from danger as the
good shepherd speaks to our hearts. The refuge we find in his
word is everything we need for our lives through his promises.
The peace we find in God surpasses all human understanding.
This peace protects us from fear and anxiety, and keeps our
hearts and minds safe and in synch through Christ Jesus as told
in Philippians 4:7.
We find the refuge of hope in the midst of difficult times.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”
(Romans 8:28).
By seeking the transforming work of God in us, we are protected
from harmful thoughts and behaviors as confirmed by 1
Thessalonians 5:23, “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”
Yes, God is our refuge when we go to him.
3. Claim Your Refuge
What does that mean? The word recourse in the definition of
refuge is a legal term defined as the legal right to demand compensation
or payment. When God saved us, he did it legally. He
instituted the new covenant and ratified it by the blood of Jesus.
We have been given covenant rights that God wants us to partake
of. Romans 8:16‐17 state, “the Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children,
then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be
that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Jesus said in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys to the
kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you
allow on earth. But he will not allow anything you don’t allow.”
In other words, we must not be like Esau and short sell our birthright.
We should value our position, inheritance, and the power
of the gift of having God as our Refuge. As believers, we need to
be vigilant in seeking and claiming, what is rightfully ours.
God is our refuge when we claim what God has provided
for us.
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4. Feed Faith and Discover God’s Infinite Refuge
The word of God in 2 Tim 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.” The more we study God’s
word, the more we discover. The more we discover, the better
we understand. The more we understand, the less fearful we
become which strengthens our relationship with God our refuge.
Verses 2 thru 4 of Psalm 46 cover this very well:
2
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though
the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the
city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most
High.
God is our refuge, our safe place, our retreat, the place we
go to when we are afraid.
or loneliness. Someone else may need a job; another may have
medical, mental, or financial issues; and another may have lost
someone very dear to them. An important lesson we gain along
life’s journey is that God leads His dear children along.
1 Pet 1:6‐7 says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead,
even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These
trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as
fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious
than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through
many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on
the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
The more trials we experience, the more refine we become.
Refining with flame is one of the oldest methods of refining
metals. In both the Old and New Testaments, we find numerous
references to the refining of gold and silver . . . as a parallel of
God refining us through painful trials.
Another example of God being our refuge and present help is
recorded in Daniel chapter 3. It tells of a 4 th person that joined
the 3 Hebrew Boys - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Nego in
King Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. God was their present
help and not one hair on their bodies was scorched.
George A. Young wrote, “Some through the waters, some
through the flood. Some through the fire, but all through the
blood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song. In
the night season and all the day long.” [3] These words are a gentle
reminder that regardless of race, color, creed, nationality, or
economic status, as long as you live on earth, trouble will come.
Our troubles may vary. You may be experiencing pain, sorrow,
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CHAPTER 5
***
Light
in the Darkness
Then spake Jesus again unto them saying,
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12

Darkness and
Disruption
Power outages, fallen trees, rising waters, damaged homes
and buildings, injuries, illnesses, and separation can be after
effects of storms. COVID-19 has caused darkness and disruption
including infection. illness, hospitalization, death, job loss,
business closures. and school closures. The grueling months of
social distancing, shelter in place, working from home, and dealing
with spouses and children have taken a toll on the population.
People are on edge.
Psychological Impact
The CDC reports that COVID-19 can affect anyone directly
and indirectly [1] especially children and youth. Beyond getting
sick, their social, emotional, and mental well-being have been
impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental
stage may have long- term consequences across their lifespan.
Some of the challenges children and young people face during
the COVID-19 pandemic relate to:
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Light in the Darkness
• Changes in their routines (e.g., having to physically distance from
family, friends, worship community)
• Breaks in continuity of learning (e.g., virtual learning environments,
technology access and connectivity issues)
•
Breaks in continuity of health care (e.g., missed well-child and
immunization visits, limited access to mental, speech, and occupational
health services)
• Missed significant life events (e.g., grief of missing celebrations,
vacation plans, and/or milestone life events)
•
Lost security and safety (e.g., housing and food insecurity, increased
exposure to violence and online harms, threat of physical illness and
uncertainty for the future)
Looking for Light in the Darkness
People usually gain light after a major storm by using generators,
flashlights, automobiles, lanterns, candles, cell phones, and other
ways. The bible reports on persons who were in dark places but
found the light.
• Job was in a dark place because of illness. He had been lying in
unrelieved misery for months with open sores all over his body.
During that time, he bore the grief of seven dead sons and three
dead daughters. All of his wealth had vanished in one afternoon.
He had become repulsive to his wife, loathsome to his brothers,
and even little children despised him as he lay on the ash heap
outside of town. Job conversed with God, and found light by submitting
to God’s will.
• Joseph was in a dark place after he was sold by his brothers into
slavery. Later he was imprisoned because of a lie told by Potiphar’s
wife. His light came when he was elevated to be the commander
under Pharaoh who said, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this,
there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my
38
house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word;
only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
• Daniel was in a dark place when King Darius, signed a decree
which he disobeyed and so he was cast into the lion’s den. His
light came when as Daniel 6 states, God sent his angel, and he
shut the mouths of the lions. The lions did not hurt Daniel. More
light came when King Darius wrote a new decree and sent it to
all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth. The
new decree instructed the people to fear and reverence the God of
Daniel because he is alive; he endures forever; his kingdom will not
be destroyed; and his dominion will never end.
Over the past months the United States has been tormented by
racial upheaval, shaken by political disharmony, and devastated
by the coronavirus. This darkness has caused economic impact
at the corporate and personal level; and has been troubling to
people’s hearts and minds. Despite these challenges, God assures
us in Isaiah 54:10, “Though the mountains be shaken and the
hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has
compassion on you.”
Redeeming light during this current time of darkness, may
include:
• Recovering from the coronavirus
• Supporting the bereaved
• Developing closer relationships with family, friends, and neighbors.
• Having a better sense of one’s spirituality
• Examining self and drawing closer to God
• Finding resources like food, clothes, shelter, finance
• Finding resources to support parents, caregivers, and adults serving
children and young people, like the CDC Resource Kit found on
their website.
• Being vaccinated.
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Light in the Darkness
Inspiration and light through Music and Songs
Over many centuries, songs have been powerful and enlightening.
People find inspiration expressing their thoughts and feelings
by playing musical instruments or penning words to songs.
Music surrounds our lives. We hear music through media like
television, radio, and video games. Also during virtual conferences
and webinars, at grocery stores and shopping malls, and
on CDs, etc.
Whether we sing out loud, hum quietly, listen, or play an
instrument, music and songs bring joy and peace to the soul.
They are a gift from God. Psalm 100:1 says, “make a joyful
noise unto to Lord, all ye lands.” African Slaves utilized spiritual
songs, dance, and rhymes as a way of overcoming beatings and
inhumane treatment by slave owners. The slaves were very good
at unrehearsed vocal harmony, and this tradition continues in
the motherland today.
Music is biblical. It is an integral part of worship. After
escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the children
of Israel according to 1 Chronicles 6:31–32, and 16:42 sang
a song to the Lord. Singing was part of Israel’s formal worship
in both tabernacle and temple. The Psalms bear rich testimony
that in joy and sorrow, in praise and lament, the faithful raise
their voices in song to God. The New Testament also bears
witness. In Colossians 3:16‐17 the Apostle Paul instructed the
Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach
and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in
your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Music reflects the richness of God’s creation.
Researchers at John Hopkins University state that, “Music
is structural, mathematical and architectural. [2] It is based on
relationships between one note and the next. You may not
be aware of it, but your brain has to do a lot of computing
to make sense of it,” notes one otolaryngologist. Harvard
University researchers say, “music is a fundamental attribute
of the human species. [3] Virtually, all cultures from the most
primitive to the most advanced, make music. It’s been true
through history, and it’s true throughout an individual’s lifespan.
In tune or not, we humans sing and hum; in time or not,
we clap and sway; in step or not, we dance and bounce. The
human brain and nervous system are hard-wired to distinguish
music from noise and to respond to rhythm and repetition,
tones and tunes.”
Benefits of Listening to Music
Dr. Michelle Millis Chappel, a former psychology professor; and
internationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter and author shares 15
ways that music is beneficial. [4]
1. Music Makes You Happier
Research proves that when you listen to music you like, your
brain releases dopamine, a “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Valorie
Salimpoor, a neuroscientist at McGill University, injected eight
music-lovers with a radioactive substance that binds to dopamine
receptors after they listened to their favorite music. A PET scan
showed that large amounts of dopamine were released, which
biologically caused the participants to feel emotions like happiness,
excitement, and joy. So the next time you need an emotional
boost, listen to your favorite tunes for 15 minutes. That’s
all it takes to get a natural high!
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2. Music Enhances Running Performance
Marcelo Bigliassi and his colleagues found that runners who
listened to fast or slow motivational music completed the first
800 meters of their run faster than runners who listened to calm
music or ran without music. If you want to take your running up
a notch, listen to songs that inspire you.
3. Music Lowers Stress and Improves Health
Listening to music you enjoy decreases levels of
the stress hormone cortisol in your body, which counteracts the
effects of chronic stress. This is an important finding since stress
causes 60% of all our illnesses and disease. One study showed
that if people actively participated in making music by playing
various percussion instruments and singing, their immune system
was boosted even more than if they passively listened. To
stay calm and healthy during a stressful day, turn on the radio.
Be sure to sing along and tap your feet to the beat to get the
maximum healing benefit.
4. Music Helps You Sleep Better
Over 30% of Americans suffer from insomnia. A study showed
that students who listened to relaxing classical music for 45 minutes
before turning in slept significantly better than students
who listened to an audiobook or did nothing different from their
normal routine. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try listening to
a little Bach or Mozart before bedtime to catch some Zs.
5. Music Reduces Depression
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the
notes and curl my back to loneliness.” – Maya Angelou
More than 350 million people suffer from depression around
the world. A whopping 90% of them also experience insomnia.
The sleep research above found that symptoms of depression
decreased significantly in the group that listened to classical
music before bedtime, but not in the other two groups.
Another study by Hans Joachim Trappe in Germany also
demonstrated that music can benefit patients with depressive
symptoms, depending on the type of music. Meditative sounds
and classical music lifted people up, but techno and heavy metal
brought people down even more. The next time you feel low, put
on some classical or meditative music to lift your spirits.
6. Music Helps You Eat Less
“There’s a friendly tie of some sort between music and eating.”
– Thomas Hardy
Research at Georgia Tech University showed that softening
the lighting and music while people ate led them to consume
fewer calories and enjoy their meals more. If you’re looking for
ways to curb your appetite, try dimming the lights and listening
to soft music the next time you sit down for a meal.
7. Music Elevates Your Mood While Driving
“That’s what I love. Not being interrupted, sitting in the car by
myself listening to music in the rain. There are so many great
songs yet to sing.” – Alison Kraus
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Light in the Darkness
A study in the Netherlands found that listening to music can
positively impact your mood while driving, which can lead to
safer behavior than not listening to music. The next time you
feel frustrated in traffic, turn up the tunes to improve your state
of mind. It won’t hurt your driving performance – it may even
help you drive more safely.
8. Music Strengthens Learning and Memory
Researchers discovered that music can help you learn and recall
information better, but it depends on how much you like the
music and whether or not you’re a musician. Subjects memorized
Japanese characters while listening to music that either seemed
positive or neutral to them. The results showed that participants
who were musicians learned better with neutral music but tested
better when pleasurable music was playing. Non-musicians, on
the other hand, learned better with positive music but tested better
with neutral music.
Memorize these results. You now have a strategy to study
more effectively for your next test.
9. Music Relaxes Patients Before/After Surgery
“He who sings scares away his woes.” – Miguel de Cervantes
Researchers found that listening to relaxing music before surgery
decreases anxiety. In fact it’s even more effective than being
orally administered Midazolam, a medication often used to help
pre-op patients feel sleepy that also has gnarly side effects such
as coughing and vomiting. Other studies showed that listening
to soothing music while resting in bed after open heart surgery
increases relaxation.
Globally, 234 million major surgeries are performed each
year. If you or someone you know is going into surgery, be sure
to bring some soothing tunes to ease anxiety. It may work better,
and will certainly have fewer adverse side effects, than the meds
they dispense.
10. Music Reduces Pain
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no
pain.” – Bob Marley
Research at Drexel University in Philadelphia found that
music therapy and pre-recorded music reduced pain more than
standard treatments in cancer patients. Other research showed
that music can decrease pain in intensive care patients and geriatric
care patients, but the selection needed to be either classical
pieces, meditative music, or songs of the patient’s choosing.
Bob Marley was right about this one – listen to music you
love to take your pain away.
11. Music Helps Alzheimer’s Patients Remember
“The past, which is not recoverable in any other way, is embedded,
as if in amber, in the music, and people can regain a sense
of identity.” – Oliver Sacks, M.D.
A non-profit organization called Music & Memory helps
people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other age-related dementias
remember who they are by having them listen to their dearest
songs. The awakening is often dramatic. For example, after
Henry listens to music from his era, this wheelchair-bound
dementia sufferer who can barely speak sings Cab Calloway
songs and happily reminisces about his life.
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Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Director of Geriatrics at the University
of California at the Irvine School of Medicine, explains that
because music affects so many areas of the brain, it stimulates
pathways that may still be healthy.
One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s Disease or another
dementia, so odds are you know someone who has it. To connect
with loved ones who suffer from age-related dementia, try
playing some of their best-loved music.
12. Music Improves Recovery in Stroke Patients
Research at the University of Helsinki showed that stroke
patients who listened to music they chose themselves for two
hours a day had significantly improved recovery of cognitive
function compared to those who listened to audio books or were
given no listening material. Most of the music contained lyrics,
which suggests that it’s the combination of music and voice that
bolstered the patients’ auditory and verbal memory.
Stroke is the number 5 cause of death in the United States. If
you know someone who has suffered a stroke, bring their favorite
songs as soon as you can. Listening to them can significantly
ramp up their recuperation.
13. Music Increases Verbal Intelligence
“Music is to the soul what words are to the mind.” – Modest
Mouse
After only one month of music lessons (in rhythm, pitch,
melody and voice), a study at York University showed that 90%
of children between the ages of 4 and 6 had a significant increase
in verbal intelligence. Researcher Sylvain Moreno suggests that
the music training had a “transfer effect” which enhanced the
children’s ability to understand words and explain their meaning.
Other research found that musically trained adult women and
musically trained children outperformed those without music
training on verbal memory tests.
No matter whether you’re an adult or a child, if you want to
boost your verbal skills, try taking music lessons!
14. Music Raises IQ and Academic Performance
Research shows that taking music lessons predicts higher academic
performance and IQ in young children. In one study,
6-year-olds who took keyboard or singing lessons in small groups
for 36 weeks had significantly larger increases in IQ and standardized
educational test results than children who took either
drama lessons or no lessons. The singing group did the best.
To help your children achieve academic excellence, encourage
them to sing or learn to play an instrument.
15. Music Keeps Your Brain Healthy in Old Age
A study with healthy older adults found that those with ten or
more years of musical experience scored higher on cognitive tests
than musicians with one to nine years of musical study. The
non-musicians scored the lowest. “Since studying an instrument
requires years of practice and learning, it may create alternate connections
in the brain that could compensate for cognitive declines
as we get older,” says lead researcher Brenda Hanna- Pladdy.
Plato had it right when he said, “Music and rhythm find their
way into the secret places of the soul.” No matter whether you’re
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young or old, healthy or sick, happy or sad, music can improve
the quality of your life in numerous ways. It reduces stress and
anxiety, lifts your mood, boosts your health, helps you sleep better,
takes away your pain, and even makes you smarter. New
research shows that music “can communicate basic human feelings
regardless of the listener’s cultural and ethnic background.”
We’ve only just begun to understand all the ways this universal
language can profit the world.
CHAPTER 6
***
Persevere and
Encourage Yourself
And not only that,
but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3‐4
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Hold On,
Don’t Let Go
When the Psalmist David was experiencing raging storms
and weariness, he persevered by anchoring himself in
Christ for relief. He says in Psalm 63:1 “O God, you are my
God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs
for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have
seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
Often, when life is moving along smoothly, we don’t think
much about how vulnerable we are. We take so much for granted,
even the chance to be together. Then a crisis hits and everything
changes. The “trouble,” “tribulation,” “trial,” and “distress”
the Psalmist David speaks of in Psalm 46 are extreme but are
similar to today’s, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, viruses, political
discourse, racial tensions, economic upheavals, insurrections,
and pandemics that are impacting lives on a global scale. It is in
these situations, that we must persevere and encourage ourselves.
Romans 15:4 says “For whatever things were written before
were written for our learning, that we through the patience and
comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” By persevering and
encouraging ourselves we will find our greatest comfort in God,
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who is our refuge and strength and very present help in trouble.
This is confirmed in verses 8 thru 11 of Psalm 46.
8
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations
he hath made in the earth.
9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he
breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he
burneth the chariot in the fire.
10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted
among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our
refuge.
Empower Youth
Hans d’Orville, a former UNESCO Assistant Director-
General for Strategic Planning, states that the COVID-
19 virus-induced disruption offers an opportunity for all actors
in all sectors to rethink systems and discuss how to impact future
generations. He says that, resilience and adaptability will be crucial
for the next generations as future employers will highly value
creativity, communication and collaboration, alongside empathy
and emotional intelligence. [1]
In my role as educator and service provider of STEM and
enrichment opportunities for young people, I needed to complete
various levels of a training course called Advancing Youth
Development (AYD). The course was developed by The National
Training Institute for Community Youth Work (NTI) through
the BEST Initiative. It is one of the finest training courses for
adult practitioners or frontline workers. It provides a broad spectrum
of the do’s and don’ts for adults that interact with young
people. It gives guidelines for effective opportunities, services,
and support that harness participation to extract the innate abilities
and gifts of young people which result in positive developmental
outcomes.
Personally, I feel today’s young people are truly special. They
are a phenomenal group that adults should strive to empower,
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with motivation and engagement so they can persevere during
these volatile times. There are more than 1.2 billion young people
aged 15 to 24 years in the world today. In 2020 these young
people have navigated a global pandemic, and raised their voices
on matters concerning poverty, education, inequality, and climate
change. They have participated in protests in response to
systemic racism and anti- Black injustices at the hands of law
enforcement. However, since the pandemic began one recurring
complaint I hear from young people is that those in authority
have not asked their opinion or requested input to help resolve
ongoing world problems. It is true that the current generation
of young people tend to think outside the box; an ideology that
may challenge some adults. However, given opportunities young
people may develop solutions that adults have not yet envisioned.
As adults we must remember that differences of opinion do not
mean deficiency.
With a philosophy of engaging young people during the
ongoing pandemic, during summer programming, Children &
Charity International [2] provided them with opportunities to
demonstrate skills and abilities June to August 2020. The youth
hosted several forums, and 2 Podcasts called: Let’ Talk About It:
The Discussion of Tomorrow by Today’s Youth. The Podcasts
were presented on two occasions as Part I and Part II. Youth
invited friends and family to listen in. Some of the topics and
sub-topics discussed were:
(a) Ongoing Global Changes
(b) Thoughts on Going back to School
(c) The Current Era of Activism
(d) Our Identity and Purpose
(e) Voting and Politics
(f) Success and Resilience
(g) Being Comfortable with Self
During the forums young people expressed their beliefs that
they are experts of their own experiences. They feel school and
community leaders should not assume they know what the youth
of today need. Young people feel they can offer valuable insights,
and that adults should follow the principles of businesses and
spend time and money to make sure services and products offered
meet students’ needs. They especially want adults to listen to
young people because they feel they have the capacity to bring
about unprecedented societal and economic progress. Young
people want adult leaders to seek youth input in decision making
processes that affect their lives. Overall, the youth demonstrated
their communication and leadership skills by serving as hosts,
conversation increasers and Chat managers during the Podcasts.
In this revolutionary and digital age young people are quick
thinkers. They seem to be born tech savvy and have or can
develop prototypes and Apps for just about anything. Young
people have shown the capacity to understand the world around
them, and the ability to lead it.
To accomplish successful relationships with young people,
adults need to value them as allies, receive them with patience
and compassion; listen and accept their ideas without passing
judgement and condemnation, and motivate them to use their
innate gifts and talents. Allowing young people to grow, and
strive encourages creativity and innovation, which in turn may
cultivate more giant slayers like David, and dreamers like Joseph,
and everyone could share in the exhilaration of their discovery
and innovation.
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Scriptures to Help
You Persevere During
Storms of Life
Lamentations 3:22‐24 “The steadfast love of the LORD never
ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every
morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’
says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.”
Isaiah 41:31 “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall
run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Isaiah 46:4 “...even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I
will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will
save.”
Psalm 107:9 “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry
soul he fills with good things.”
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good
work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
James 1:2‐4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials
of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under
trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of
life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end will be
saved.”
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Persevere and Encourage Yourself
Encourage Yourself
S
[3]
teve Jobs once said, “…Never make a negative decision in
the low time. Never make your most important decisions
when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm
will pass. The spring will come.”
This co-relates to Ecclesiastes chapter 3. “To everything
there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time
to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to
heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to
weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time
to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast
away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time
of war, and a time of peace.”
God in his wisdom never promised us a mountain without
a valley, joy without sorrow, light without darkness, or sunshine
without rain because all of these elements play an important part
in the universe. A modern version of a Charles H. Spurgeon
quote: [4] reminds us, “God in His providence operates the scales.
On one side He puts His people’s trials, and on the other He
puts their consolations. When the scale of trials is nearly empty,
you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same
condition. And when the scale of trials is full, you will find the
scale of consolation just as heavy. When the dark clouds gather,
the light is more brightly revealed to us. When night falls and
the storm is brewing, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to
His crew. It is a blessed thing that when we are most downcast,
then we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit. One
reason is, that trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts
can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs
the reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes more room for consolation.
When God comes into our heart and He finds it full,
He begins to break our comforts to make it empty; then there is
more room for grace. The humbler people get, the more comfort
they will always have, because they will be more fitted to receive
it. Another reason why we are often most happy in our troubles,
is because it is when we have the closest dealings with God. When
the barn is full, man can live without God. When the purse is
bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But
when our shelter is removed then we want our God. When the
house is purged of idols, then we are compelled to honor the
Lord. “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” There is no cry
so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains;
no prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths
of the soul, through deep trials and afflictions. They bring us
to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness.
Come, troubled believer, fret not over your heavy troubles, for
they are the heralds of weighty mercies.”
So in the midst of storms we should personally embrace the
promise given in Psalm 46, and look to God for strength and
encouragement. God almighty loves and cares for us, and keeps
his word.
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Persevere and Encourage Yourself
Bishop T.D. Jakes, offers words of inspiration to encourage
people during these difficult times. Here are three quotes: [5]
“You gotta speak to yourself, you gotta tell yourself, stand up or life will tear
you down. You gotta make up your mind. It’s tougher than I thought it was
gonna be. And it hurts more than I expected and I may not be the first one
across the line. I may not be the best wife, I may not be the best husband,
I may not be the best anything. But I’m gonna keep on hoping till I cross.”
“Lay your hands on your head and say give me a new mind. Give me
a new mind means give me a new perspective. Give me a new perspective,
give me a new way of looking at my situation. Give me a new
way of looking at my circumstances. Get my mind ready for this year,
because when I get this year there’s going to be blessings, there’s going to
be miracles, there’s going to be opportunities.”
“God doesn’t give you finished products because you need something to
create. So God did not create the telephone. God did not create the computer.
God did not create the automobile. God did not create a chair.
He never made not one chair, he made a tree, he made steel, he made
gold, he made air. God is going to give you the raw stuff to give you
something to think about so you look at it and say what can I do with
the stuff you gave me.”
As a disciple of Christ, I strongly feel that as children of God we
ought to also remember to:
Count our blessings. In English, the word “blessing” means
something that brings happiness or helps you. To Believers, a
blessing is approval and help from a higher source – God. A
blessing can also be a sign of approval. It gives you permission
to do something. Counting our blessings is important. It shows
that we are grateful. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or
thanks. When people count their blessings, they say things like:
“I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am
thankful for my health.” It is better to be grateful for our blessings
than to take them for granted.
When we take something for granted, we do not appreciate it.
Sometimes we are not appreciative of our good fortune and blessings
until they are gone. So ask yourself, what has God done for
me lately? Here are a few: You are alive. You are reading this
book. You have food, clothes, shelter, a job. and family. You
should be thankful.
Stay Rooted. Just as a tree needs deep roots to withstand
storms and droughts, as believers we need to be deeply rooted
in faith. Being rooted in Christ means we have a strong desire
to know Him, to have faith in Him even when it is difficult to
understand, and to spend time in His word and presence daily
to grow stronger in faith. It also means submitting and trusting
God with our whole life. Being rooted keeps us grounded and
settled.
Have Faith. The bible says, “Faith is the substance of things
hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” This means acting
on what we have not yet experienced, believing promises in
the bible that have not yet been fulfilled, and trusting God when
our situations have not yet changed. Faith is not an academic
exercise, but rather a process of surrendering self to God, and
allowing Him to show us the way as he forms us into his desired
vessels. Faith is putting our eggs in the basket of what God will
do; and relying on His promises of intervention and deliverance.
Deep-rooted faith is vital during life’s seasonal storms when we
feel stripped bare of all that is comfortable and familiar; or overwhelmed
with grief and trials. Faith in God gives us strength,
courage, and stability to withstand being tossed about.
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you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Scriptures to
Encourage Yourself
During Storms of Life
I Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people
spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was
grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David
encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Deuteronomy 31:6 “ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not,
nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth
go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Isaiah 41:10 “ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Psalm 9:9‐10 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will
put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them
that seek thee.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer
2 Corinthians 4:16‐18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even
though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the
things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are
not seen are eternal.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the Lord, He is the One who goes
before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake
you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and
Your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain
thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Matthew 11:28‐29 “ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls.”
So even when you don’t know what will happen tomorrow and
you just live from day to day, just remember who holds your hand.
Keep lifting your eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh
help. Our help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and
earth.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
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63

Afterword
The year 2020 was a truly unique one. It was the peak of the
coronavirus pandemic, and it marked the first time in my
life, that I experienced the three most important Worship Services
for the Christian community, Easter, Christmas, and New Year’s
Eve all being conducted virtually. Some people considered the
experience an eerie, historic phenomenon, but I felt the dynamics
of the moments were totally beyond anyone’s control, so to me it
was better to take things in stride, pray, and let God have his way.
Our church members and visitors attended the Worship
Services as if they were being held in-person. God’s presence
was felt during the services, as we enjoyed the musical selections,
bible centered preaching, teachings, prayer sessions, and
the after-service fellowships. To me, virtual services have been
a great means of keeping congregants connected. I have enjoyed
actively participating in the services, but realize that as humans
we are innately social beings; so some obvious things missing
were the close-up, smiling faces of brethren to greet, and share
hugs and handshakes. Also missing, were plates of freshly cooked
meals, and desserts, from the hospitality kitchen staff that are
usually enjoyed together. Despite the separation, technology has
been effective in filling the void. Churches, government, businesses,
school systems, and individuals, have utilized media like
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Afterword
Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, and
WhatsApp, to stay connected to people.
To me, the Coronavirus highlights the importance of uti lizing
every God given opportunity, because you just never know when
your time on this earth will end. It also shows the need for us to
recognize the value in people. Biblically, we are all created equal,
and in the image and likeness of God, and everyone on earth
is worthy of respect and care. Notable since COVID-19, is the
loss of some of our freedoms. We are restricted in our regular
movements and travel, and being close with family and friends.
We must wear face masks, and social distance. COVID-19
highlighted how vital frontline workers are. They provided a
wide range of essential services during the critical phases of the
pandemic. Today, people still struggle to live with a measure of
dignity and security for self, loved ones, and neighbors. Home life
is very different. Occupants mostly work or school from home.
During holidays, instead of a huge gathering filled with loved
ones, there were smaller gatherings with just immediate family
members enjoying each other’s company and enjoying sumptuous
meals. Time is also used to expand horizons and fun is added to
brighten the day when alone.
The first chapter of this book references the song, Hello God.
In it, Dolly Parton cries out to God for help and asks, “Are
you out there, are you listening anymore?” During this traumatic
COVID-19 period, I too as a Christian, have pleaded for mercy,
forgiveness, and a fresh start. Based on conversations with several
people, I know you probably have done the same. The good news
for us is that God is still very present. God has given researchers,
scientists, and the medical community knowledge to create
vaccines so people can be inoculated to help curtail the spread of
the virus because God has, and always will be our source. He is
listening to his children’s cry and providing the answers according
to his promises. David says in Psalm 30:1‐3:
I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up And have
not let my foes rejoice over me
O Lord my God, I cried out to You And You healed me
O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit
As I reflect on the many coronavirus-related challenges of
the past several months, I am looking forward to what God has
in store for the global population in 2021 and beyond. I hope
we heed the valuable lessons learned. Most importantly, is to
love the Lord our God with our heart, soul, and mind; and love
our neighbors as we love ourselves. By so doing, we would put
aside superficial differences, bridge racial divides, embody our
commonalities, and treat others better. Gospel singer Andrae
Crouch reminds us in song that, Through It All, we just must
learn to trust in Jesus.
I’ve had many tears and sorrows I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’ve been times
When I didn’t know right from wrong But in every situation
God gave me blessed consolation
That all my trials come to only make me strong
I’ve been to lots of places
I’ve seen millions a lot of faces There’s been times I felt so all
alone But in my lonely hours
yes, those precious lonely hours
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
Afterword
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word
I thank God for the mountains I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them
I’d never know what faith in God could do
Through it all
through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all
through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word
We can sing Through It All with confidence because the God we
serve is Awesome. Pastor Charles Jenkins says it best:
My God is awesome, He can move mountains Keep me in the
valley, hide me from the rain My God is awesome,
heals me when I’m broken
Strength where I’ve been weakened, forever He will reign (repeat)
He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty. Awesome,
Awesome He’s Holy, He’s Holy, He’s Holy, He’s Holy.
Awesome, Awesome
He’s Great, He’s Great, He’s Great, He’s Great.
Awesome, Awesome
He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty, He’s mighty.
Awesome, Awesome Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer.
Awesome, Awesome
He’s holy, He’s holy, He’s holy, He’s holy. Awesome, Awesome
Provider, Provider, Provider, Provider. Awesome, Awesome
Protector, Protector, Protector, Protector. Awesome, Awesome
My God is awesome, He can move mountains
Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain
My God is awesome, heals me when I’m broken
Strength where I’ve been weakened, praise His holy name
Yes, our Awesome God wants us to depend on his grace, mercy,
and provision. He cares, and is our very present help in trouble.
Amen.
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome My God is
awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
My God is awesome, Savior of the whole world Giver of
salvation, by His stripes I am healed My God is awesome,
today I am forgiven
His grace is why I’m living, praise His holy name
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
68
69

Bibliography
Bernock, Danielle. How is God our Refuge. Christianity Today,
March 17, 2020 Blodgett, L., Climatology of United States, p. 397,
“The Great Hurricane of 1780.”
Center for Disease Control. The 1918 influenza pandemic.
———. “Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental
Health. COVID-19 can affect anyone directly and indirectly.”
Children & Charity International. www.childrenandcharity.org
Depradine, C. A., 1989: Pre-1900 severe hurricanes in the Caribbean.
Notes compiled for the Caribbean Meteorological Institute, Saint
James, Barbados.
D’Orville, Hans. COVID-19 causes unprecedented educational disruption:
Is there a road towards a new normal? PMC NIH, June 3, 2020.
Dunbar, 1804: Transactions of the American [Philosophical] Society, Philadelphia,
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Francis, Enjoli. 9/11/01 Survivors Reflect on World Trade Center and
Pentagon Attacks as10th Anniversary Nears: ABC News, September
6, 2011.
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A Very Present Help In Trouble
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Fitzpatrick, Patrick J., 1999: Natural Disasters: Hurricanes. ABC-
CLIO Inc., ISBN 1‐57607‐071‐9
Harvard University Researchers. Music is a fundamental attribute of the
human species. July 2011.
Jakes, TD. Best Inspirational Quotes by TD Jakes That Will Help You
During This Lockdown. The Singju Post, July 17, 2020.
Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. 30-Minute COVID-19 Briefing.
Coronavirus Resource Center. June 2020.
———. “Keep Your Brain Young with Music”
Karima, Haya. The past decade’s 5 deadliest viruses. Egypt Today,
March 22, 2020
Ludlum, D. M., 1963: Early American hurricanes, 1492–1870. Amer.
Meteor. Soc., Boston, 198 pp.
Millas, Dr. José Carlos, 1968: Hurricanes of the Caribbean and adjacent
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Sanchez, Victoria. Titou Phommachanh. Va. man’s COVID-19 recovery
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Silverman, Rose. Sama Conteh. Long Covid: December 1, 2020.
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Digital Library Sermons: Accessed on The
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Young, George A. 1903 God Leads Us Along. Accessed on Timeless
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Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. The Great Hurricane of 1780.
———. “Definition of the word “Storms”.
———. “Kechi Okwuchi plane crash story”
———. “Matthew Henry biography”
———. “Steve Jobs biography”
Millis Chappel, Michelle Dr. Scientists find 15 Amazing Benefits of Listening
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72
73

Notes
CHAPTER 1: HELLO GOD-PLEASE HELP US!
1. ABC News. 9/11 Survivors Reflect on World Trade Center
and Pentagon Attacks as 10th Anniversary Nears, by Enjoli Francis,
September 6, 2011.
2. Florence Jones. 9/11/01 Survivor. ABC News Accessed
12/20/2020. https://abcnews.go.com/US/September_11/911-survivors
-reflect-world-trade- center-pentagon-attacks/story?id=14459825.
3. Jay Jonas 9/11/01 Survivor. ABC News Accessed 12/20/2020.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/September_11/911-survivors-reflect
-world-trade- center-pentagon-attacks/story?id=14459825.
4. Sheila Moody 9/11/01 Survivor. ABC News Accessed 12/20/2020.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/September_11/911-survivors-reflect
-world-trade- center-pentagon-attacks/story?id=14459825.
5. 7. Jonathan Judd and Fred Eichler 9/11/01 Survivors. ABC
News Accessed 12/20/2020. https://abcnews.go.com/US/September_
11/911-survivors-reflect-world-trade- center-pentagon-attacks/story?id=
14459825.
6. Hello God by Dolly Parton from Album: Halos and Horns.
https://dollyparton.com/tag/hello-god.
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Notes
CHAPTER 2: STORMS, VIRUSES, AND PANDEMICS
1. The Great Hurricane of 1780. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Great_Hurricane_of_1780
2. Hurricane Katrina. https://www.weather.gov/mob/katrina
3. Storm definition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm
4. 11. The 1918 influenza pandemic.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic
-h1n1.html
5. Swine flu is one of the most dangerous viruses. https://www
.egypttoday.com/Article/4/82868/The-past-decade-s-5-deadliest- viruses.
6. Ebola. https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/82868/The-past
-decade-s- 5-deadliest-viruses.
7. The Zika virus. https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/82868/
The-past- decade-s-5-deadliest-viruses
8. 1. “Corona, also called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome”
(MERS) or “Acute Pneumonia Syndrome.” https://www.egypttoday
.com/Article/4/82868/The-past-decade-s-5-deadliest- viruses.
9. The first coronavirus case in the WHO Region of the Americas.
https://www.who.int/news/item/29‐06‐2020-covidtimeline.
10. Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/
CHAPTER 3: THE WAY MAKER
1. Kechi Okwuchi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kechi_Okwuchi
2. Sama Conteh. Long Covid: by Rose Silverman. December 1,
2020. https://www.yahoo.com/news/long-covid-doctor-going-switch
-145834062.html
3. Titou Phommachanh. Va. man’s COVID-19 recovery after medically-
induced coma ‘nothing short of a miracle’ by Victoria Sanchez.
March 30, 2020. https://wjla.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-recovery
-nothing-short-of-a- miracle
CHAPTER 4: GOD IS OUR REFUGE
1. Matthew Henry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Henry
2. Adapted from How is God our Refuge by Danielle Bernock.
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/how-is-god-our-refuge.html
3. Adapted from God Leads Us Along by George A. Young.
https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/God_Leads_Us_Along/
CHAPTER 5: LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
1. The CDC. Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional,
and Mental Health. COVID-19 can affect anyone directly and indirectly.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping
/parental-resource- kit/childhood.html.
2. John Hopkins Researchers. Music is structural, mathematical
and architectural. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness
-and- prevention/keep-your-brain-young-with-music
3. Harvard Researchers. Music is a fundamental attribute of the human
species. July 2011. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy
/music-and-health
4. Adapted from: Scientists find 15 Amazing Benefits of Listening
to Music. https://www.lifehack.org/317747/scientists-find-15-amazing
-benefits-listening- music
CHAPTER 6: PERSEVERE AND ENCOURAGE
YOURSELF
1. Adapted from article by Hans d’Orville. COVID-19 causes
unprecedented educational disruption. June 3, 2020. https://www.ncbi
.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7268589/
2. Children & Charity International. www.childrenandcharity.org
3. Steve Jobs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
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4. Charles Haddon Spurgeon quote. Accessed on The Spurgeon
Center, Digital Library Sermons: December 2020.
5. 6. Best Inspirational Quotes by TD Jakes That Will Help
You During This Lockdown, July 17, 2020. https://singjupost.com
/best-inspirational-quotes-by-td-jakes-that-will-help-you- during-this
-lockdown/
About the Author
Marilyn I. James is an educator,
missionary, and philanthropist, who
believes there is a divine being at work
in our lives. This authority is within us
if we yield to its call. By yielding we are
able to overcome the many obstacles,
tests, and challenges we will encounter
in our life’s journey.
Marilyn serves as Executive Director of Children & Charity
International where her focus is STEM Education and
Mentorship for children and youth, and community outreach and
strengthening of families in the United States and internationally.
She served as NASA SEMAA Family Café Coordinator at
the Science and Engineering Center, University of the District of
Columbia where she coordinated STEM activities for program
participants and parents, and provided program planning and
development services. An advocate for academic enrichment, she
liaisons with government and funding agencies for pre- college
programs, and community partnerships.
78 79

A Very Present Help In Trouble
Marilyn is most proud of the 20 years of her life she dedicated
to providing services and support to US Military Chaplains and
their families. For leisure, Marilyn utilizes her skills as a poet,
playwright, and song writer to motivate others. She has also
authored a Parent’s Guide called, “The Early Years: Helping Our
Children Succeed - Tips and Resources to Improving Language
and Reading Skills”; a Children’s Book series called, “MINGO
LEARNS…”; Valuing Relationships; and “It’s Complicated –
Exploring the Depth of Life’s Difficulties and Finding Divine
Serendipity”. Over the years Marilyn has received commendation
for her work from: NASA SEMAA; Ministry of Education,
Ghana; UNICEF; The Kenyan Government; and the United
States Army, Challenge Coin for excellence, courageous spirit,
and compassionate service.
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