For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
We are made for a purpose. There are many stories in the Bible that describe people who find themselves in circumstances that were far outside of their control:
- Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt and later caught up in a famine affecting the whole land
- Daniel was taken into captivity in his youth and forced to serve a conquering empire.
- Moses set adrift on a river as a young baby to find himself in a position to lead his nation out of slavery
- Esther in the court of the Persian king as her people are under threat of being wiped out (Esther 4:14)
But circumstances didn’t define them, God had a special purpose for them as the verse above also promises he has for us too.
In this time of international crisis let us not be defined by that, but let us be asking of God, how then, in the midst of this, can you use me? For me there are two words that have kept coming back these past few weeks: “Hope” and “Help”.
- Let our prayer lives be fuelled by the HOPE we have in Jesus. He is the ultimate HOPE because he is faithful and will never fail us (Romans 5:5). Let us call on him day and night, with every circumstance, every need, every opportunity, and every anxiety. Let the hope we have in Him, affect every act and conversation we have with others and let our prayers be ones that hope for change in this situation from the one in who ‘all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26).
- Let us look for ways to HELP. Some of these will be as opportunities arise: So for example, today we were able to respond to a request for funds from the Wallis family regarding medical equipment needed in their local area in Zambia. However, let’s also be proactive, looking out for the vulnerable and ways to serve them and joining in with our communities’ efforts to help (e.g. foodbanks).
- And of course, let us finally ask for HELP from one another as we need it over the coming weeks. Whether that it is just a quick call for a chat or prayer or more practical needs as people self-isolate or experience financial hardship. My own family has been so blessed by offers of help from neighbours and church family for shopping as we have been in isolation for the past two weeks.
Let’s be led by our saviour Jesus, and not by circumstances, as we look at how we can respond over the coming weeks and months.