iShineInMinistry

When we are in the middle of a horrible life moment, a loss, a failure, a death, health issues, financial dilemmas, or simply just taking a look at the news to see all of the terrible injustices, unloving acts and heartless endeavors that are taking place on a normal basis, it can be hard to really think, “just have faith”. When we see our friend’s cancer diagnosis, get laid off, see that eviction notice or watch footage of yet another person being harmed by what should be a safe authority, it is all we can do to not try to hostily try and take matters into our own hands, or just look up at God in anger and deadpan, “Really?”

Life is absolute misery sometimes and while we can stay joyful in the circumstances, devastation sometimes just cannot be ignored. What do we do in these times? Well, first, I can tell you what we don’t do. We do not just forsake God and say it’s over, He’s not really there anyway and just go off into the world where all the evil is reigning day in and day out.

What we do is pray, seek the Lord and allow Him to show us the ways we can be the hands and feet in those moments. Pray for those, including yourself, that are going through hard times, terrible moments, anguish, hurt and defeat. Then, see what types of organizations and ministries are tangibly finding ways to help these just causes. Donate to a nonprofit that provides cancer research. Volunteer at an organization that helps people understand their rights if they are the victims of injustice and find ways to get that information into the hands of those that need it most. Set up a savings account for yourself or even a piggy bank to help yourself save more funds and get out of financial disarray. Find a career-savvy friend that can help you update your resume. Go keep that shut-in person company when their health gets too frail to leave the house, or run their errands for them (or both).

We can either sit by and watch the enemy take over this world from every angle or we can be the little things, the little moments, the small glimmers of hope that remind people that there is still good in the world and that God still reigns...He will win in the end. Let’s remind others and ourselves of that when it’s hard to believe.