Josh McDowell's Blog, page 19
April 24, 2020
Romans 8: Chapter of Assurance
These 39 Bible verses are packed with God’s promises of care and provision. Let’s look at some of them!
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
Peace of Mind
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ~ verse 6
As John Piper, a gifted Christian author and speaker notes, “If we don’t have the hope that Christ is for us then we will be engaged in self-preservation and self-enhancement. But if we let ourselves be taken care of by God for the future — whether five minutes or five centuries from now — then we can be free to love others.”
A worried mind is a self-absorbed mind. And a self-absorbed mind doesn’t have the bandwidth to be mindful of the needs of others. But God says that when we center our mind on Him, we can have peace. Peace that He has us, despite our circumstances. Blessed assurance!
In this stressful time, the world needs all the love we can wrap around it. We have people in our lives who need us to share our hope and peace, to help them find their own. Thanks to the internet, we can even be a force of good in the lives of strangers, perhaps clear around the globe.
Christ is Working ALL Things Out
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him ~ verse 28
There is nothing worse than experiencing long-term limbo. We humans aren’t particularly good at waiting; I think because God hardwired us to be doers. So when we can’t “do,” we lose perspective and meaning. And when meaning exits, so does purpose. Like, what’s the point of even making the bed, brushing our teeth, or showering? What’s the point of getting off the couch to turn off the boob tube?
Here’s why: Because God is working for our good — so we should be working for it, too.
We can choose, because we have a mind governed by the Spirit, to not sink into a dark funk. We’re not stuck here forever. We’re just momentarily stalled on the track of life (yet once again), as we wait for our next train to show up. But what assurance we can have in knowing that Jesus is the conductor.
For sure, COVID-19 containment and isolation stinks. But when we put it into perspective — by comparing our discomfort to the truly evil and bad events in history — we can see that we don’t have it all that bad. We’re not suffering under a dictator. We have not been forced from our homes. We’ve not been caged behind barbed wire. We have access to well-stocked grocery stores and other resources to fill our basic needs. We are free to take walks and run errands. We have Zoom!
Friends, we are not victims. We’re simply inhabitants of a world where bad (and good!) things happen. COVID-19 has given so many people the opportunity to do so much good. Gain hope from seeing that generosity, love, and self-sacrifice! And remember that these actions give us just a glimpse of the goodness and love that are God’s character.
God Works for Our Good, Because He Loves Us
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ verses 38 & 39
For some, it’s a real struggle to believe in a loving God. Perhaps because Christians have let them down, or they were raised by unloving parents, or been taught bad theology that promotes the idea that God primarily focuses on their failings and flaws. They’re unable to do life with the assurance of the above verses.
Do you overeat? He loves you. Addicted to porn? He loves you. Cheat on your taxes? Yell at your kids? Steal supplies from the office? He loves you. Sure, He wants to help you to not do those things — but not by shaming you with condemnation. That’s the devil’s job. Jesus came to give us the assurance of God’s endless grace!
You’ve heard the phrase “No pain, no gain,” right? And you probably hate it, because none of us likes discomfort. But we have to recognize that it’s in our discomfort that we grow. But when we acknowledge God’s goodness in the midst of our pain, we can walk with Him in trustful, hopeful expectation. We can believe that the Creator of all sees and cares about all of our big and little problems.
God will not always give us what we want, but He promises to give us what we need to accomplish His purposes in us and through us. The hard part of this is being okay with how and when and where He chooses to move in our life.
An amazing truth: every person that I know who has turned to God in their darkest moment has come out of it grateful for the deeper relationship forged with Him. The exit their dark valley with the conviction that He is, indeed, with them and for them. They gain strength from the proven assurance of His deep love. They find conviction and purpose and joy in living for Him.
Are you likewise convinced that nothing can separate you from God’s love? If not, be bold: tell Him you want that assurance! God loves that prayer. God delights in showcasing His majesty, for our ultimate good and His glory. Even as He uses hard moments to forge our strength and flex our faith, He wants us to face each day with hope and steady assurance!
Next Steps
Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
Catch up on our Bridging the Gap posts. Have hope!
We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter , to examine evidence about Jesus.
Sheri writes and edits for Josh McDowell Ministry.
The post Romans 8: Chapter of Assurance appeared first on Josh.org.
April 23, 2020
7 Ways to Minister to Others From a Distance
Healthy relationships are important to our emotional and physical well-being. Especially during a global health crisis like COVID-19, which feels so incredibly isolating. Here are seven ways to safely reach out to encourage and connect with friends, family, neighbors, co-workers — even strangers. Your thoughtful gestures might be just the hope they need to keep going!
If you can think of other ways to brighten the days of others, please share your suggestions in the comments below. We’d love to hear them!
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
Seven Meaningful Ways to Connect and Minister to Others
>> Schedule video chats. Online apps like Zoom make it possible to bring groups of people together from multiple locations. You can use it for family chats, or to play games with your friends. Or use it to help a schoolmate with his homework. The possibilities are endless with this timely technology.
>> Write handwritten notes. Whether mailed or delivered to someone’s house, handwritten notes are deeply appreciated. The more personal you make your note, the more meaningful it will feel to your recipient.
>> Do helpful tasks. Perhaps mow your neighbor’s yard, or retrieve your neighbor’s trash can after the trash gets picked up. This would even be a great gesture for a neighbor you’ve never met! What a great time to do so.
>> Order online gifts. Order a mug and coffee from your favorite online retailer to be delivered to someone special. You may not be able to meet in person for coffee, but this gift will rock their day. If you can, shop local!
>> Deliver homemade goodies or meals, or grocery shop. What a terrific way to support medical staff working overtime, parents now juggling work and homeschooling, a friend who has lost her job, or a neighbor who lives alone. Want to really blow their minds? Don’t let them pay you for the grocery costs!
>> Publicly display encouragement. You could decorate your yard with homemade signs that shout, “Have a nice day!” or “Stay positive!” Or, if you have chalk, get busy adding positivity to your street or sidewalk! Some people are even tying white bows around their yard trees to show healthcare workers that they are appreciated. Love!
>> Honor special events. It’s discouraging that some of us are having to forgo birthday parties, graduations, and other highly anticipated events. But where there’s a will, there’s a way! Here are just a few ways people have been creatively getting around the imposed social isolation: drive-by birthdays, virtual dates, online proms, weddings, and even this jaw-dropping gesture. Is that amazing, or what?!
Keep these tips in mind:
Be personal. Choose a method that will feel special to your recipient.
Be a good listener. Don’t assume you understand what others are feeling. Ask considerate questions, and listen well.
Respect others’ boundaries. Some people have more fear and stress than others. So however you decide to help and comfort others, respect their boundaries. This will really show that you care!
Remember how hard the social isolation has been on kids. From teacher parades outside of student’s homes, to scavenger hunts for kids to spot teddy bears in home and shop windows, an outpouring of creativity has helped to make this time easier for them. How can you buoy the spirits of kids in your life and neighborhood?
Want to download these tips as a shareable PDF? Click here: 7 Ways to Minister to Others From a Distance.
The post 7 Ways to Minister to Others From a Distance appeared first on Josh.org.
April 20, 2020
Why does God Keep Satan Around?
To answer this question, it helps for us to know about the story of redemption that God began writing since the creation of the world.
Somewhere in history (presumably at the fall, when Adam and Eve first sinned) Satan was given a “legal right” or “dominion” over the earth.
In Ephesians 2:2, Paul talks about Satan, calling him: “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”
Certainly, God was still in control. But consider this:
In Luke 4:6-7, Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and tempts Jesus with this offer: “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” (Emphasis mine.)
I don’t think Satan was lying. If he were, Jesus would have known his bluff, and the temptation would not have been legitimate. But then everything changed! Jesus died and rose from the dead, destroying the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). He triumphantly declared, “All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
Yes, Satan continues to exert power — but without authority. His power is illegal.
So why is Satan still around?
This brings us back to the original question: Why does God keep Satan around? Because a much greater plan is unfolding!
God has given the ministry of building His Kingdom to us, the Church. It’s our role, as His sons and daughters, to live for God and exercise His rule in the name of Jesus. Don’t miss this free Mp3 download of Josh’s excellent teaching on the authority God has given you!
Could God instantly end Satan’s power? Sure. But God is maximally glorified as we, His Church, exercise His authority in our fight against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). All authority has been given to us on heaven and on earth. We can be confidently fervent, knowing the power we hold because of Christ Jesus.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for us, Satan is already defeated! Let’s believe it and act like it.
Satan works hard to blind Christians to the authority they hold over him. The bold authority that God delegates to all believers upon their salvation.
We may likely experience great pain during this intense battle. But let your trials serve to heighten your ability to worship God now, and even more when you finally get to see Him face-to-face!
NEXT STEPS
Interested in knowing God personally? Get started with this really good info .
To grow your knowledge of the Bible, read 77 FAQs about God and the Bible by Josh and Sean McDowell.
Also read Josh and Sean’s recently revised apologetics classic, Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
Don’t miss this free Mp3 download of Josh’s excellent teaching on the authority God has given you!
Matthew Tingblad is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post Why does God Keep Satan Around? appeared first on Josh.org.
April 17, 2020
Introducing Resolution: Overcome Struggles and Thrive
Josh McDowell and Ben Bennett are launching a new initiative, Resolution, to help hurting youth find hope, healing, and freedom. Mark your calendar for the world launch of the Resolution Podcast on May 4, 2020. Invite your friends to listen in!
Josh McDowell Ministry is launching its newest initiative, Resolution, to help reach the next generation with hope, healing, and freedom.
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I (Josh) was recently speaking with the youth pastor of a large church. I asked what he thought the number one epidemic is among youth. “Loneliness,” he replied. “I don’t know a kid in my youth group who isn’t struggling with it.” These were Christian kids with mostly Christian parents who loved them, yet somehow they all felt so alone and were hurting.
A few years ago, I (Ben) was mentoring a Christian student named Eric who was struggling with anger, poor self-image, and pornography. All the while, Eric was attempting to lead Bible studies, share his faith with others, and stop returning to his struggles. He wanted so badly to be free, and to overcome these issues that prevented him from loving others and enjoying life. Eric tried talking to his ministry directors, and memorizing Scripture about why anger and lust are wrong, but things didn’t get better. His faith was having little impact on his day-to-day struggles.
These are just two of the many stories we have witnessed around the globe in recent years.
Even before COVID-19, countless people were experiencing hurts and struggles at devastating rates. Many are struggling to survive, let alone thrive and experience the abundant life Jesus promises. We consistently hear of Christian influencers and leaders making headlines for their mistreatment of others, getting caught up in immoral choices, and struggling to live and lead from a place of wholeness. It’s common to witness our friends, Christian or not, struggling with their self-image, being reactive or defensive in relationships, and coping with stress through escapist behaviors.
Even those who hold deep Christian beliefs struggle to live in victory due to their painful life experiences. This, in turn, prevents them from experiencing the thriving life Christ has for them. It also prevents them from inviting others into a vibrant experience with Jesus.
Young People Are Struggling
Young people are really struggling as these statistics show:
70% of teens say anxiety and depression are major problems amongst their peers.
Those ages 16 to 24 are 63 times more lonely than those over 75 years old.
Only 4% of Gen Z hold to a biblical worldview.
76% of men and women ages 18-24 regularly seek out porn.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people.
I (Josh) experienced many of those struggles growing up. I endured an abusive and alcoholic father and a critical mother. And I was raped by a farmhand for seven years; the first time at just six years old. These experiences ultimately led to doubts about God, anger, and fear that I’d never be able to love or be loved. My childhood led me to develop unhealthy patterns that continued for decades.
I (Ben) also experienced many struggles as a child and teen. My parents were in full-time ministry with a large Christian organization, yet my dad was often angry, distant, and abusing alcohol. As I grew up, I lived in fear of him and struggled to fit in anywhere. By the age of eight, I was riddled with mental health issues, and a sense of worthlessness. Eventually I became addicted to food and porn. I began dealing with suicidal thoughts. I wondered if anyone would care if I ceased to exist. Yet all the while I was attending church, involved in youth groups, and reading my Bible. I suffered in silence and learned to hide what I was going through for fear of what others might say.
We are facing a global epidemic. Many are hurting, lonely, and struggling, and not finding the biblical answers that are available to them.
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If the church is not whole and thriving, it will struggle to be relevant and offer the hope of the Gospel to the world around it.
Many people today are no longer primarily asking if Christianity is true or how to get to heaven. They’re asking, “Is Christianity good?”
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They’re also asking, “How does Christianity offer a life of wholeness here and now?” These questions directly relate to their hurt and brokenness that need answers.
There Is Great Hope
Our struggles aren’t random; they’re signals that when answered, can pave our way towards a thriving life.
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Medical and mental health professionals confirm that much of the dysfunction and disconnectedness we experience in life stems from unaddressed or unresolved relational and emotional hurts. And the Bible confirms this as well. These hurts leave us with unfulfilled God-given longings that we seek to fulfill through unhealthy behaviors. Yet, our struggles aren’t random; they’re signals that when answered, can pave our way towards a thriving life.
When we experience the fulfillment of our God-given needs and longings (things like acceptance, love, affirmation, safety) by God and others, we start to heal at a root level. Just as negative experiences of unmet longings lead to unwanted behaviors, positive experiences of met longings lead to healing and thriving.
In the face of these challenges, there is great hope. Both of us have experienced freedom and healing through biblical, time-tested, and research-supported principles. We have witnessed God use these principles in the lives of tens of thousands of others and developed something we’ve deemed The Wholeness Apologetic–a biblical understanding of how we heal from brokenness, overcome struggles, and return to a life of wholeness. It’s time for these principles to be made accessible to the masses and for the church to see a movement of wholeness. It’s time for a Resolution.
The Josh McDowell Ministry is launching its newest initiative, Resolution, to help reach the next generation with hope, healing, and freedom.
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Join The Resolution Movement
I (Josh) and Resolution Director, Ben Bennett, have started a worldwide movement to address these problems through a combination of neuroscience and the changeless truth of the Bible.
Even though we couldn’t have foreseen COVID-19 when we began planning the launch of Resolution a few years ago, it is amazing how God sovereignly orchestrated this content. Not only is Resolution relevant to the current state of our culture in 2020, but it is even more relevant in our new normal of sheltering in place, social distancing, and the rise of struggles many are experiencing due to COVID-19.
Through live events, a podcast, YouTube videos, and social/web presence, youth, parents, and youth leaders are equipped with biblical truth and brain science to overcome struggles and experience a thriving life with Christ and others.
Will you join the Resolution and help others find hope, healing, and freedom?
Here’s how:
Mark your calendar for the launch of the Resolution Podcast on May 4, 2020. Listen, rate, review, and share the podcast.
Check out resolutionmovement.org for more info and resources!
Share the Resolution Movement on social media. Use the Resolution Media Kit for images to post about the movement. Use the below sample post descriptions as a guide, with the provided hashtags:
Youth are facing high levels of anxiety, loneliness, and shame. The @ResolutionMovement combines biblical truth and brain science to help them find freedom! #resolutionmovement #struggles #teen #youthministry
I’m excited to be part of the @ResolutionMovement launching 5/4 with @benvbennett and @joshdmcdowell. Check it out!
resolutionmovement.buzzsprout.com
#resolutionmovement #struggles #teen #youthministry
Our struggles aren’t random; they’re signals that, when answered, can pave our way towards a thriving life. @resolutionmovement #resolutionmovement #struggles #teen #youthministry
We are facing a global epidemic. Many are hurting, lonely, and struggling, but not finding the biblical answers available to them. @resolutionmovement #resolutionmovement #struggles #teen #youthministry
Mark your calendar for the world launch of the Resolution Podcast on May 4, 2020. Invite your friends to listen in!
The post Introducing Resolution: Overcome Struggles and Thrive appeared first on Josh.org.
April 15, 2020
Is God’s Goodness Evident Amidst COVID-19?
COVID-19 has done serious damage to the fabric of societies around the world. Some of us are batting unemployment, anxiety, boredom, loneliness — or the virus itself. For many, the situation goes even deeper; we are battling with the question of whether God is still good during this difficult time.
We have the philosophical dilemma of thinking that a good God will always remove bad things. But we also have the emotional realness of this time. The struggle to believe in God’s goodness is certainly understandable, as we consider all that has happened to us in the past month. How can God really be good, we ask, when there is so much hurt?
Continue reading, or click here to watch video.
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole
In What Do You Tether Your Faith?
We would do well to consider what we have allowed to influence our belief in God’s goodness. For many of us, our theology of God is based entirely upon our own experience of life.
> If things go well, we think God is good.
> If things don’t go well, we think God is not good.
We tend to reduce the God’s goodness down to what feels good in our own experience, and we tether our belief about God based on that. But when that thing is taken away, our faith goes away with it, and we start to question God’s goodness.
God’s goodness influences our world, certainly. And His goodness has no doubt stopped many, many horrible things from happening — things we never know about. But God does not promise us a pleasant life, nor does He promise that our experience of life is going to get better. These are false ideas about God that we have invented and wield as indictments against God when life gets tough.
Rather than seeing the goodness of God linked against the troubles of this world, the Bible calls us to see God’s goodness as the answer to the troubles of this world.
God’s goodness transcends our present circumstances, and points to the things eternal, the things unseen. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,” Jesus says in John 16:33,“But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
So What is the Blessing of God?
In Romans 8, the apostle Paul spends a great deal of time writing on the blessings of God. We might expect “blessing” to mean that our lives will be comfortable and work according to our plan. But this is not what Paul means at all.
Look at verse 35, which says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Paul goes on to quote Psalm 44, to affirm that hardships will indeed come. But then he says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Notice that these trials are the exact circumstances by which we find victory! Today we struggle against the deadly coronavirus, yet it can’t overcome God’s love for us. In fact, the Bible promises that our eternal security in Christ will make us victorious through this virus.
> Even if it takes our homes.
> Our jobs.
> Our lives.
We can say this because of God’s goodness, not in spite of it! The fact that our world suffers, only goes to show how much greater God’s plan of redemption must be that He would allow bad things like COVID-19 to take place. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” God’s goodness is magnified in these times, not diminished!
You and I can continue to pray that COVID-19 will quickly pass; I think we should. But we also can be confident that God is fully good and fully in control of everything that happens in our world. As it says in Psalm 112:7: “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”
Next Steps:
Watch my video on dealing with anxiety during COVID-19.
We’d love to pray for you! Please send us a prayer request via this form.
Do you want to have a relationship with God? Start here.
Print out these Bible verses about God’s goodness! Read them. Believe them. Memorize some!
Catch up on our Bridging the Gap posts. Experience God in a deeper way!
Matthew Tingblad is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post Is God’s Goodness Evident Amidst COVID-19? appeared first on Josh.org.
April 13, 2020
Freely Trapped While Waiting
He does not despise His imprisoned people.” Psalm 69:33 (NLT)
Imprisoned. The word caught my eye as I read this verse. Now that a large portion of the world is under stay-at-home restrictions due to the pandemic — being stuck in the house for weeks, or seeing life barely creep forward — many of us are feeling feel trapped, imprisoned, suffocated. We’re all having to learn how to do life differently. But we can take heart!
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
Three Concepts That Lessen Our Feeling Trapped
Over the past year I discovered three concepts that are now helping me to endure COVID-19 with less stress, anxiety, and frustration. To not feel so trapped as I wait for normal life to resume. I’d like to share them with you!
Here’s the first: This too shall pass.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Oh, it’s just a season, it will pass.” When we hear this phrase so often, it starts to sound like an excuse. But it’s true!
Time and again, history shows us that our suffering will eventually pass. Even the Israelites, who roamed the desert for 40 years, finally entered the promised land. If our season of struggle is a national crisis, a sick family member, or even financial ruin, we can know that this season will eventually end. We are not stuck. We are not on our own. God has not forgotten us.
Here’s the second: One day it will all make sense.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. Since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
“We are all born with eternity in our hearts” is a very Christian phrase, but it’s true. We all long for more, for better. For the eternal, whole, and beautiful things that are unreachable in this life.
Until we reach heaven, we will struggle for understanding why things happen the way they do in life. So reminding myself that “One day it will all make sense,” helps me to reframe my thoughts. These words take the sting out of the frustration of the moment. They acknowledge that although I don’t have understanding now, one day I will.
Years ago I worked for a ruthless boss. Her dictatorial management style, paired with her personal vindictiveness toward employees, was almost unbearable at times. I wish I had used the “One day it will all make sense” phrase back then! Today, as I reflect on that brutal experience, I realize that I learned an invaluable lesson from her: how not to lead. It was a good learning experience that certainly didn’t make sense at the time, but it has helped me since, and in a way that makes sense to me.
Here’s the third: Wait expectantly, soldier.
“Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3
Do you imagine “waiting expectantly” to be like rocking in your porch rocker, as you patiently wait for normal life to resume? Not me! Even thinking about sitting still for too long gives me anxiety! But perhaps that’s not the way we’re supposed to “wait,” anyway.
Let’s suppose that we’re on assignment with the military. We’ve been sent to an international location, but we’re now stuck on the military base. We’ve put in lots of training, we’ve studied the enemy, and we’re ready to go. But we can’t. We have to wait for our orders.
And as the wait continues, it starts to feel hard, because we don’t know when it will be over.
But as we wait expectantly, we continue to workout, prepare our plans and equipment, and conduct training scenarios with our teams to stay mission-ready. And we repeat this habit every single day until we finally receive our mission orders to go do what we’ve been waiting to do!
Ways to Wait Expectantly
Enjoy our alone time.
Use the time you have to increase your praying, Bible reading, blogging/writing, and sleeping. Plan your future goals, hone your mission statement, or go for an extended prayer walk. Breathe deeply.
Relish our time with others.
In this stressful time, society is encouraging us to spend time with family and friends. So don’t feel guilty about doing so! Pump up the bike tires, and pull out the board games, and add them to your day’s margin. If you don’t have people sheltering in place with you, enjoy your healthy online communities.
Learn new things.
With less time commuting to work every day, use that time to cook a new dish, doodle in your sketchbook, or perhaps plant in your garden. Do something that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time to do.
Dial down the negative.
Balance staying up-to-date with the news by finding positive stories that boost your mood. Try turning up positive music or writing a note to encourage a friend.
Stay grateful.
Savor a cup of coffee as you identify things for which you can be grateful: the sun (or rain), new time for hobbies, or perhaps a quiet house (or one bounding with energy). Start a “joy jar” to remind you later of happy moments during this time. They will be good reminders for you later!
As we wait out this pandemic crisis, you and I don’t need to feel trapped or imprisoned. Thankfully, we live in a time with so much information, innovation, and technology at our fingertips that we can be connected to others, even as we’re quarantined at home. As I use these tips in my daily life, my feelings of anxiety and being trapped alleviate. And as I talk to God and process where I am, I feel calmer. I begin to realize I’m going to be okay — whatever happens — and that eventually this hard time will pass.
One day this will all make sense. We’ll have a better understanding of what caused COVID-19, and how to best handle pandemics in the future. But right now, my daily goal is to focus, plan, and hone my skills as I wait expectantly for life to resume. I hope my suggestions help you, too!
NEXT STEPS:
Reflect on what you just read. Take a moment and breathe deeply: 1-2-3-4.
Submit a prayer request to us here.
Meditate on this these scriptures: Psalm 69, Psalm 40, Psalm 5
Recommended reading: Father Connection , They Were Christians , Man’s Search For Meaning , Dee Henderson series , Get Out of That Pit , Quiet and watching: Creative Parenting with Josh McDowell , Jesus Film videos and Messiah .
CHRISTINA IS PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT JOSH MCDOWELL MINISTRY.
The post Freely Trapped While Waiting appeared first on Josh.org.
Sharing Your Testimony During the COVID-19 Pandemic VIDEO
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
Who says your Christian testimony has to be huge for it to have value?
In this heartfelt video, Austin shares what our testimony is really intended to do in the lives of others: highlight Jesus, not us.
Listen as Austin shares guidance on how we can share our testimony with others during this high-stress period of COVID-19. Your hope in Christ might be the very encouragement a friend or family member needs to hear to get through this.
How Can We Help?
Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
We’d love to pray for you! Please send us a prayer request via this form.
Print out these Bible verses about prayer! Read them. Believe them. Memorize some!
Catch up on our Bridging the Gap posts. Experience God in a deeper way!
We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter. This short apologetics classic examines evidence about Jesus.
Austin is part of the speaking team at Josh McDowell Ministry.
The post Sharing Your Testimony During the COVID-19 Pandemic VIDEO appeared first on Josh.org.
April 9, 2020
Understanding Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic QUICK VIDEO
For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.
What is Your Emotional Anchor For Dealing With COVID-19?
In this quick video, Matt spells out the truth: that life is uncertain, and where we place our trust and hope matters.
Listen as Matt encourages you to be steadfast in the only source stronger than pain and death itself: Jesus. Even if we lose that which we hold most dear, we have His assurance that He will always walk through our trials with us. Take comfort in the truth that nothing — not even COVID-19 — is outside of His sovereign hand.
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Do you want to experience a life-changing relationship with Him? Start here.
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Matt is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post Understanding Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic QUICK VIDEO appeared first on Josh.org.
April 7, 2020
COVID-19, the Best and Worst of Times
My ten-year old son, Asher turned to me in response to those who are struggling to make sense of the coronavirus: “…but Dad, this world is broken!”
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Everyone is affected by the spread of COVID-19, particularly the most vulnerable members of society – it’s heartbreaking! However, it’s wonderful to see many moved to reach out to others with kindness, care and compassion.
Truly, it’s the best of times and the worst of times.
Fear and anxiety flows from the things we don’t know…
We don’t know the true impact of this pandemic.
We don’t know who has been infected – who will be infected.
We don’t know how this will affect the health and well-being of our loved ones.
We don’t know the economic outcome – for us and for the country.
Yet, the coronavirus highlights three things we do know – and must never forget to remember…
1. This world is broken!
The outbreak of COVID-19 could be described as a natural phenomenon. Despite this, we view it as an aberration – something that ought to be eradicated because the world would be a better place without it. It’s universally accepted as a problem – a symptom of a bigger problem: this world is broken!
I’ve had countless conversations in different countries, pointing out the fact this world is broken. No one has turned to me and said, “Oh no it isn’t!” It’s a profound statement – that deserves an explanation.
Author C.S. Lewis put it like this in Mere Christianity, “A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.” You call a line crooked because you have a standard for a straight line, otherwise a crooked line is not crooked, it’s just different.
In the same way, the coronavirus is a sign of something gone wrong in the world, so we must have an idea of the way the world ought to be – and this isn’t it! Suddenly the natural world doesn’t come naturally, which means we implicitly hold to a higher standard, above and beyond this world. In the face of the coronavirus, don’t forget to remember this world is broken. The second thing is this…
2. You’re not a speck, you’re special!
A pandemic puts lives at risk on a mass scale, and the common goal is to fight the infection and overcome it. It’s not about saving society. It’s about saving lives. We don’t want to weigh each person to see if he or she is worthy, we’re willing to fight for the weakest of the weak – those that cannot fight for themselves. You’re not a speck, you’re special!
Another profound statement – that deserves an explanation. This doesn’t follow from a purely physical world that suggests we’re less than a speck in this vast universe. This doesn’t follow from any evolutionary mechanism that suggests our selfish genes should drive us to survive at the expense of the weak.
The fight against COVID-19 is fought on the basis every person is stamped with absolute value, which means we implicitly hold to a higher standard, above and beyond this world. Don’t forget to remember this world is broken; you’re not a speck, you’re special; and finally, don’t forget to remember…
3. There’s got to be more to life than this!
The world has been changed by the coronavirus. It’s going to leave a deep scar on society. Still, there will come a day when it is no longer on the front page and it’s no longer a global threat. That will be a day to celebrate – but not for long…
Hospitals will continue to treat men, women and children who are seriously ill.
Lives will still be lost on a daily basis, families grieving the loss of loved ones.
Even the healthy know the clock is ticking, winding down toward the end of life.
Funerals are never easy, and the one thing guaranteed in life – death, is difficult to accept. There’s got to be more to life than this!
Another profound statement – that deserves an explanation. When someone dies, we feel sad. It’s as if this person ought to have lived longer. How much longer? The dream would be we finally figure out a way to live forever, because no matter how long we live, it never seems long enough.
The coronavirus reminds us of our mortality and the expectation there’s got to be more to life than this, which means we implicitly hold to a higher standard, above and beyond this world. In the face of COVID-19 we must never forget to remember..
This world is broken! You’re not a speck, you’re special! There’s got to be more to life than this!
Three profound statements – that deserve an explanation! Three profound statements that show we implicitly hold to a higher standard, above and beyond this world. Otherwise this world is what it is, and it shouldn’t be any other way. Every person is just an insignificant speck in this vast universe. Life is short and death is the end of everything.
Some argue, these sound disappointing but we need to grow up and face the facts. But why believe these are the facts if they don’t fit. Why is every person born with an expectation for so much more? Why ignore the pieces of the puzzle that take us in another direction?
I want to make explicit what we implicitly hold to be true: we hold to a higher standard, above and beyond this world. That’s why we know the world is broken. That’s why we know every person’s life is absolutely valuable. That’s why we know there’s got to be more to life than this.
I want to talk about the claims of the Christian worldview. The Bible is not a fairy story for the weak and uninformed. The Bible tells us God’s story, which is His-story and it rings true! The Bible tells us this world is broken – COVID-19 is not the way things ought to be, and we ought to do our best to eradicate it. The Bible tells us you’re not a speck, you’re special – we ought to fight for every life, since every person is made in the image of God.
The Bible tells us there’s got to be more to life than this – and there is! The Bible says, this life will never be long enough because we were created to spend eternity with God!
I often use the ordinary jigsaw puzzle as a tool to help make sense of the world, to make sense of others and to make sense of ourselves. Why? We know we’ll never find all the answers, but you don’t need every piece of a puzzle to see the big picture. The Bible is like the picture on the box. It is the right guide to life, and it helps us see enough to know the truth!
If you would like to learn more about the Bible and God’s love for you, you can reach me at alex@josh.org. Let us know how we can help and encourage you.
NEXT STEPS:
1. Find more encouraging messages from Alex .
2. Do you want to know God personally or need someone to pray for you?
3. Consider meeting with an online counselor or exploring more counseling resources at josh.org/find-help
4. Connect with Alex on Instagram, Facebook or on our website to stay in touch.
Alex McLellan is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry. Learn more at www.Josh.org/Alex.
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April 6, 2020
Why Did God Create Humanity?
When God created humanity, He considered it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). God’s assessment can be difficult to understand, considering what people have done against God from the start.
You and I, as objects of His love, have been created to worship and enjoy God, who is worthy of all praise. Though God desires that every person would be saved, as it says in 1 Timothy 2:4, He leaves the choice to us. So why did God create us, knowing that many would reject Him?
The Right Question?
The reason God made us has less to do with his foreknowledge of our individual response, and more to do with His nature and His ultimate end to receive glory.
Allow me to explain. From cover to cover, the Bible is about God. Specifically, Scripture tells the story of God being glorified.
One of the primary ways that God is glorified is through His gift of salvation to humanity (Ephesians 1:4-6, 12). But we must recognize that salvation is just one side of the coin. Salvation is always delivery from something. This “something” is judgment. So for salvation to work, there must be a fork in the road: one path leading to salvation — and the other to judgment. Both options must be real, if God is to be glorified through our salvation (Romans 9:22-23).
Humanity Given Free Will
This is where our free will comes in. God gifted all of humanity with free will, so that every person could personally choose his or her salvation — or judgment. God knew that many would reject Him, certainly. But God also knew that many would cherish Him as their friend and Savior. Our free will also makes it possible for us to gift God with glorify as we worship. If we had no free will, our worship would be forced. It wouldn’t be genuine.
God receives the maximum glory for creating a world in which He became our salvation from judgment. If you have yet to receive Christ, take the next step below. If you received God’s merciful gift, give Him praise! You can live free from shame as you look forward to spending eternity in His presence!
NEXT STEPS
Interested in knowing God personally? Get started with this really good info.
To grow your knowledge of the Bible, read 77 FAQs about God and the Bible by Josh and Sean McDowell.
Also read Josh and Sean’s recently revised apologetics classic, Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
Or you can start by reading through our year-long blog series on Evidence. Learn why Jesus and the Bible are true!
Matthew Tingblad is a communicator at Josh McDowell Ministry with a seminary education from Talbot School of Theology.
The post Why Did God Create Humanity? appeared first on Josh.org.
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