In case you missed it, there is a pandemic occurring right now. There are protests and riots in the streets of every state over police brutality and racial injustice. There are killer hornets in the Northwest that my friends and I are referring to as tracker jackers—a salute to Hunger Games, which doesn’t feel far off from the narrative of our world right now. Also, a protest has manifested in an autonomous zone in Seattle called CHAZ, declaring a police-free area of occupation. Australia is still recovering from the wildfires that ravaged its land earlier this year. It’s also an election year here in the States.
If you missed most of this, chances are high that you’ve got something else going on in your immediate circles. Maybe you’ve missed the global and national crises because you’ve been trying to manage your own world’s crisis.
Maybe a loved one has died, or you lost your job. Maybe an important life event was cancelled, or your cancer came back. Maybe the divorce is about to be finalized, or your son relapsed. Maybe your business failed, or your depression and anxiety have spiked. Maybe, just maybe, your heart is burdened with a very personal, all-too-real crisis.
I want to encourage you, friend. No matter what your personal crisis is, God has made some promises that stand unshakeable and independent of the world’s condition.
God has promised us a safe place to rest.
Grieving, mourning, planning, and mental processing are exhausting and draining necessities. Are you tired? In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus promises us when we come to Him, He will be gentle with us and offer rest for our souls. The Lord is in the business of drawing people out and providing a safe, quiet place (Mark 6:31-32, Psalm 4:8, Psalm 23, Hosea 2:14). Believer, make every effort to enter that rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).
The Father has promised us His justice.
Experiencing injustice provokes in us anger and a feeling of being stuck, unseen. We feel silenced and broken. Exodus 14:14 declares that the Lord will fight for us, while Ecclesiastes 3:17 promises God’s righteous judgement on the wicked. Hebrews 10:30 says that the Lord God, Whom we know, is in possession of vengeance. We know God brings light into darkness (Job 12:22) He loves the just (Psalm 37:27-29) and is angered by injustice (Isaiah 61:8-9).
He has promised us an end.
In this life, some burdens seem far too heavy to even imagine the absence of them. We’ve often been so deeply crushed by trials that the scars and indention they leave on our hearts appear irredeemable, unhealable. But the Holy Scriptures tell us that God will rescue us from the present evil (Galatians 1:4). The Father says, though we don’t know the plan, He has mapped out His return and we are to be ready (Matthew 24:44). “The End” is penned for this evil, broken life by a brilliant, powerful Author (Matthew 24:14). If we are counted as one of His, our life on this earth is simply the preface to the greater story, we are saved to a different, eternal life (John 3:16).
Whatever crisis you are facing, either on a personal or global level, know that God sees you. Your wall of crisis has not concealed you from the compassionate view of the Father. The barrier of fear, anger, or sorrow before you has not shut out the powerful arm of God. As you face personal crisis in a world of crisis, know this:
God is with you.
Meet the Author!
Hannah Hanzel is an opinionated, passionate gal that loves sharing what God is doing in her often busy and complicated life. She strives to show God's glory in working as the Art Director for the Baptist Messenger, serving as a multi-client freelance graphic designer, and communing with CRBC. When she's not working, you can find her sipping coffee in a hammock, watching classic '40s movies, or going on an adventure with friends or family.
