We’re nearing the winter solstice…the longest night. In our post-Covid world, there is more to this than just physical cold and darkness. As we retreat indoors after a long bleak year, there is anxiety, monotony, isolation, sickness, and death. We long for spring, some literally, but almost all metaphorically. There is hope on the horizon with promising vaccines coming soon, but none know how long it will take for us to feel we have escaped the devastating consequences of such widespread affliction.
For many, winter won’t end when Covid does.
However, as is always the case in trials, there have been many who rose up and embraced the challenge as an opportunity to learn, grow, and bless beyond what they had before. Perhaps you are one of them and know that even when Covid is behind you, there always have been and will remain many millions plagued the anxiety and mourning of medical and economic affliction. Perhaps this rare episode of common global suffering was partly meant to teach a new empathy for these numerous global neighbors that we cannot forget, as their suffering continues. Perhaps the rare global camaraderie during Covid was meant to remind us that THE one Church is a single global entity, where all parts must be equally concerned for each other (1 Cor. 12:24-26, Click to tweet). Statistics clearly prove that Christians and non-Christians are far more concerned with their local community, which has absolutely devastated the parts of Christ’s Body with much less local resources. Perhaps this empathy and sense of oneness that could only be forged in a fire like Covid is an important way God is producing good from 2020. He has chosen to manifest his presence and work in us – Jesus’ Body – and we must not forget the lessons of our Head.
In The King of Spring, Booklet 5 of the Healing Hereafter free ebook series, we explore the numerous important questions that must be asked about God during suffering. In surprising ways, God is considerate and fair to every sufferer – even those who die (read the Booklet if you understandably doubt this). But he also mandates that his followers be included in his response. “God uses the good works of his people to relieve suffering in this world. The deeper the community is between a person and God’s Holy Spirit inside of her, the more her obedience to God will reflect the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When the world sees these attributes in Christians, the world sees God’s work and his wisdom, and suffering subsides” (p. 18).
Be God’s answer to a prayer!
I work with students, and several of them are working hard to bless their neighbors in dire need, by fundraising for charities research-proven to get the most impact for your dollar. It’s a lovely way for you to bring spring to members of our global Body we have not been equally concerned about. It’s an easy way to turn empathy into action where you know your buck will get the most bang (100% goes to the charities). I know some can’t give, but if you have $25, $100, even $10 to share, you’ll seriously make their day! You know how exciting it is to have people rally around a risk you’re taking! And you’ll make a research-proven difference for causes and people you’re passionate about…
1. If you love kids and nutrition, help Danielle bless Children’s Hunger Fund here.
2. If you’re into clean water and preventing disease, help Matt bless Neverthirst here (or here if you don’t want to use Facebook).
4. If empowering women and community development/healthcare gets you pumped, help Rose bless Living Goods here (or here if you don’t want to use Facebook).
Thanks for lifting up these students, blessing your Body and its Head, and bringing spring to 2020! 🙂
