6 Questions In A Crisis
When I was learning about writing I was taught to treat each topic like a reporter would and ask all the questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Let’s look at this situation with those questions in mind.
Where is God in this?
John 16:32-33 “Listen to me; a time is coming when you will be scattered, each to your own home. That time is now here. You will leave me alone, but I am never really alone, because the Father is with me. I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.
Jesus was referring to the early church, but the echo of His presence being with us remains throughout all time.
God is WITH us! That is where He is. He has not abandoned us.
He’s not worried,
He is not overwhelmed.
He always wants to use all things for good. (Romans 8:28)
How could this be used for good?
Whenever crisis comes people respond. They either respond in fear of the situation or faith in God.
Whenever a life-threatening crisis comes people think about eternity more than usual.
Ecclesiastes reminds us that we don’t know what God is up to all the time. His ways are higher than our ways.
“God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
To be honest, I am not a fan of this verse. I don’t like “never completely understanding what he is doing” but I love knowing I can trust. God knows more than I do, loves deeper than I can imagine and offers a sure hope no matter what is going on in the world.
Why is this happening?
The garden of Eden was a beautiful place that didn’t have sickness, but then humans came on the scene. Adam and Eve messed up and sin entered the world bringing sickness and more.
Then it happened, we all joined in, didn’t we? We have all sinned and contributed to the state of this world.
But take heart, Jesus has overcome the world and now we can be a part of the solution.
1 Corinthians 15 talks about our joining with the second Adam, Jesus, and how eternal life is our great hope. It ends with this verse:
“So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.”
What if God has plans for this situation to be used to bring people to Him and meet them in the midst of it all?
What am I supposed to do?
The answer is always the same to this question.
Look to God. Interact with Him. Do whatever He asks you to do.
Pray with me?
Father God, We acknowledge we need you.
We find it easier to ask questions than to offer answers.
We admit it’s easier to be fearful than faith-filled.
But we want to commit our focus to you loving you and loving others. Please forgive us for when we have fallen short and shifted our focus elsewhere.
We welcome you into our hearts and lives anew.
Show us how you would have us lean in to you and love others. Empower us to reach up and out in this time.
Amen.
Who is God reaching out to in this?
It can be easy to take up sides in a situation like this. Let’s remember that Jesus came to overcome the world. It’s His desire to reach out and offer life to all.
He loves:
- The angered
- The fearful
- The apathetic
- The needy
How is He reaching out to them through us? Through you?
When will this be over?
Only God knows, but take heart He has overcome the world and He is with us!