“Crisis always creates a collision between faith and action. Your response will determine how successful you navigate it.” B. Keith Chapman.
Crisis comes in many shapes and sizes. In fact, a crisis for some may seem like an everyday part of their life. However, we all reach a point in life when we encounter something so crushing and unbearable that we don’t know how we are going to make it through. In these moments, it is the unseen that will benefit us the most. Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We tend to be bold and strong in our Faith when we are not really using it. But when faith is the only thing we have to lean on, it can be a challenge for even the strongest of people.
Recently, I was listening to a song called RATTLE by Elevation Worship and heard the portion of the lyrics that says, “Friday’s disappointment is Sunday’s empty tomb.” This of course was referring to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The song made me think about the crisis that the followers of Jesus were experiencing as He was crucified. Some sacrificed everything to follow a man that brought hope and love to the world. The sadness and confusion that followed His death, I am sure was overwhelming. However, they experienced a victory like no other in history three days later. While the Bible is filled with examples of people exercising their faith, often these stories can feel distant and unrealistic. Nevertheless, the impact of faith during a time of crisis is just as real today as it was back then.
Over the last month, I learned of two separate situations in which people I have known for years came face to face with a major crisis in their lives. The emotional weight of the pain and lack of understanding was unbearable. One chose to stand strong in their faith and embrace the promise that God would see them through. This decision encouraged and provided hope in a desperate situation. While they are still struggling every day to cope with extreme emotions, they are committed to make the situation count by watching God do the miraculous in the lives of their family, friends, and others. The other situation had an altogether different outcome. A decision to ignore faith and take matters into their own hands resulted in complete devastation for them and their families.
2 Corinthians 4-16-18 says, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long, yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.” This verse is a timely reminder that we should never give up. Our spirit can be renewed and encouraged daily when we activate our faith in Christ Jesus. While none of us would classify the two situations I referred to as small troubles, the passage promises that our faithful action will produce a benefit, bigger than the struggle, that will last forever.