Persevere

The concerns of this life can certainly weigh us down and cause us to not experience the joy and peace that God offers to us. We can be much more content if we take some necessary steps in order to adjust our attitude and combat the negative thinking that can render us less productive in our walk with the Lord. 1st Peter 5 states:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Paul writes to Timothy about the "great gain" that is found when we combine godliness with contentment. It is easy to become restless in our lives, and we have to rely on the promises in the Word and the power of the Spirit to keep us on track.  The Bible instructs us to "take every thought captive," and we can do that by replacing the thoughts which do not produce fruit for God's glory with the words that God has spoken to us.  We can identify and reject counterproductive thinking and learn to place God's Word foremost in our thinking. 

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In Mark chapter 4, in what is called the Parable of the Sower, Jesus highlights four types of soil into which the Word of God can be sown - there is the wayside, the stony ground, the thorny ground, and 
good ground. We pick up as Jesus talked about that third type of soil:
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

A recent survey by The Barna Group reveals the heart, the hopes, and concerns of pastors, which is relevant now that we are in the middle of Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month.  I have some good news and bad news from the survey - first, the bad news, according to CBN.com:

...Barna's president recently told CBN News that he believes 1 in 5 churches may not survive the shutdowns and changes brought on by the coronavirus and could be forced to shut their doors in the next 18 months.

Even though some churches have reopened and are having in-person meetings again, others say it's still too risky and they won't do that til 2021.

And, even though 20% of churches may not make it to the other side of the coronavirus crisis, that does mean 80% are anticipated to make it.  But, perseverance will be a key.

But there is optimism among pastors:

After the personal and financial challenges caused by COVID-19 are resolved, 49 percent said their church attendance will only "slightly decline" and 26 percent said it "will stay the same."

Add that up and 75% of pastors expect little or no decrease in church attendance - also, "64 percent believe the personal faith journey of their congregants 'will stay the same' throughout the remainder of the pandemic."  In other words, it seems that pastors are not anticipating a spiritual setback, at least among about two-thirds of their congregations.  

There is mixed news, as the survey also explored the potential effect of the Presidential election on their congregants.  While 87 percent said they either "strongly agreed" or "somewhat agreed" that they were prepared to lead their churches through the season, the CBN story says that there is concern over the "impact" of the election on their congregations:

41 percent of respondents said they were "somewhat concerned" over the impact, 33 percent answered that they were "very concerned," and 26 percent were "not concerned."

About two-thirds of pastors said they planned a "sermon or prayer gathering" related to the election, and about the same percentage indicated that the election would not cause division in their churches.

Their greatest hope, according to the Barna survey? Well, "50 percent of pastors said their greatest hope was that 'there will be an awakening of people's faith and trust in God.'"

Here are a few considerations for today:

First of all, don't allow the cares of this life - whether it be coronavirus woes, election concern, or anything else - steal your hope and joy.  And, regardless of the outcome on Election Day, don't forget that your hope is not in earthly leaders, but in the Lord Himself.  

We can also remember to resist cynicism or anger.  Don't become bitter in your spirit, and certainly resist having negative feelings flow out and impact your relationships in an ungodly way.  There will be challenges in this life, but we can continue to place our confidence in the Lord.

So many have had to develop a sense of perseverance.  And, James speaks of the trying of our faith developing patience.  Lockdowns, masks, social distancing, cancellations, and other adjustments to the routine ebb and flow of life are wearisome, but we can continue to trust that this season will pass. In the meantime, we can continue to exhibit joy and trust in the Lord.