Strong in the Challenge

The Word of God can embolden us when we face disturbing and unsettling circumstances in our lives. Paul address the strength we can find in Christ in 2nd Timothy chapter 2:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

The coronavirus crisis has taken its tolls on churches, church leaders, and individual Christians alive.  Thankfully, the Lord is continuing to use His people to provide hope in the midst of challenge. But, it can be hard.  We have to continue to seek out the Lord's strength, to personalize His promises, and to press into Him when we are discouraged or fearful.  He will minister to our souls when we are struggling and will be our strength in our times of weakness.

+++++

This world has certainly become more challenging and even confusing during the past year, hasn't it? Yet, in times of uncertainty, we can rely on the security of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 1 states:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

The span of time known as the year 2020, more specifically, dating back to this past March when the coronavirus swept across the world, sickening people and taking lives, has provided a challenge for the Church.  And, while the Church has continued in many instances to be faithful to its call to serve its communities, there are many who are hurting from physical affliction and mental anguish.

The Barna Group highlighted some of these dynamics in a recent survey about the Church's response to hurt within its midst.  Christian counselors David and Donna Lane were on the program recently and shared about the importance of recognizing some of the mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges that the body of Christ is facing.  The survey summary on Barna's website says:

Most pastors agree that trauma is an issue the Church should address, but many church leaders have had little to no training in the way of trauma care. Data from Barna’s recent report created in partnership with American Bible Society—Trauma in America—show that the majority of Protestant pastors (73%) indicates they feel “somewhat” equipped to help someone in their congregation who may be dealing with significant trauma. Only one in seven (15%) feels “very” well-equipped, while 12 percent do not feel equipped at all.

Unfortunately, I can see where this challenge can be stretched when you consider that a significant number of people do not look to the Church for assistance.  The summary notes:

Data from Restoring Relationships show that while pastors might feel somewhat equipped to help their congregants work through a challenging time, it’s not a guarantee that practicing Christians will turn to the Church in the midst of their struggle.

Though seven in 10 practicing Christians say they have grown closer to a church because of a personal crisis (69% vs. 31% who have not), this positive indication of effective support is tempered by the fact that one-third recalls having distanced themselves from a church during a personal crisis (33% vs. 67% who have not).

So, we have leaders who are feeling insufficient to address these matters, with roughly a 50-50 split between pastors who see their "mental and emotional well-being" in a positive light and those who do not. In fact, as Barna's summary states: "As of August 13-17, 2020, while half of U.S. pastors rated their mental and emotional well-being as excellent (12%) or good (38%), a significant amount noted this area of health as average (31%) or below (20%)."

COVID-19 can be a very painful, debilitating, and even deadly virus. Even those sidelined with relatively mild symptoms or those who have not contracted the disease can find themselves beset with anxiety.  That is why believers have to continue to trust God and prioritize faith over fear.

We also have to recognize the resources that the Lord has given to us.  He can equip those who are in spiritual leadership and comfort those who are suffering.  But, we can acknowledge when we need help to cope - by taking our burdens to Christ and by seeking out those who can encourage us.  That is what the body of Christ is about - function in order to help one another heal - physically and spiritually!

When we struggle and perhaps find ourselves in isolation, our stance should be to run to God and not away from Him.  And, He is there with open arms to take us in, to comfort us, to refresh and renew us by His Word.  Meditation on His promises can be so powerful in confronting our challenges.