Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 87

What Christ’s Followers Need to Know, Be, and Do in Difficult Times

I was asked a few days ago three questions related to our finances and needed perspective during these challenging times with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

Honestly, our needs as Christ followers right now are the same as they are in times of ease, plenty, and comfort. But suffering and difficulty can make our calling and purpose much clearer. Puritan Thomas Watson said, “God takes away the world, that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity.” Let’s not waste this difficult season, but instead use it to study and learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18).

The grace that saves us is also the grace that sanctifies and empowers us. God’s power isn’t needed just by unbelievers to be converted. It’s needed by believers to be obedient and joyful. This is the grace Jesus offers you today, and every day, as you seek to follow Him faithfully.

What do we need to know?

We need to know who our God is and that He has many attributes, and not just love. (I highly recommend J. I. Packer’s book Knowing God, as well as Wayne Grudem’s large Systematic Theology and also his abridged Bible Doctrine.) We need to know all that’s true about Him, including His sovereignty, justice, love, grace, wrath, happiness, mercy, patience, unchangeableness (immutability), and His providential workings to bring about His eternal plan. A central part of that plan is using adversity to topple our idols, including the idols of health and wealth, and to make us more Christlike, and thereby more faithful representatives of the Jesus we proclaim. This will result in people being drawn toward faith in Him.

“WE KNOW [not wish or hope] that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). “Now this is eternal life: THAT THEY KNOW YOU, the only true God, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). We need to know that the people of God will truly live happily ever after with Jesus and each other on the New Earth, a redeemed world that is our true country and our eternal home. This is not wishful thinking, but the blood-bought promise of the risen King Jesus. Meanwhile we are pilgrims, strangers, and aliens in this fallen world, and we should never expect anything in it to meet our deepest needs, which can only be met in Him (Hebrews 11:13-17).

What do we need to be?

We need to be disciples who bear Christ’s likeness, including integrity, trust, and faithfulness to God. We need to be trusting children who believe the promises of God, not the promises of American pop culture and celebrities and financial cheerleaders, including Christian ones, who are convinced America’s long-term prosperity is a given, somehow guaranteed. (Where do you find that in the Bible?)

We need to be people who realize our dependence on our Savior and King, and that apart from Him all we do amounts to nothing: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

We need to be Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), meaning that we accurately and unapologetically represent who He is, what He believes, and what He says is true. Our job isn’t to be His make-up artists, speech writers, or PR staff who go before Him, but His servants who follow behind Him and faithfully convey His true agenda, whether or not others like it or we’re comfortable doing it.

We need to be children who understand “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness” and “no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11). Richard Sibbes said, “When we grow careless of keeping our souls, God recovers our taste of good things by sharp crosses.” So we should be people who see that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

What do we need to do?

We need to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.  We need to love our neighbors as ourselves, caring not only about our children but all children.  

We need to ask God for wisdom and seek to act wisely (James 1:5) but also lovingly, which sometimes means taking great personal risks for the good of others who need our help. “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). We need to understand that some things are far worse than death, and failing to walk with Him and obey Him and be willing to die for Him are among them. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

We need to store up our treasures in Heaven, not on Earth, knowing that they are never safe when stored up on earth, but only when placed in the hands of our God in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

We need to happily serve Him in a spirit of continuous prayer, overflowing with joy and gratitude: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We need to adopt an eternal perspective, and “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Knowing our Lord went to Hell for us on the cross so we could live with Him forever in Heaven, even in hard times we should fix our eyes on Him and “sing” and “shout for joy” and “be happy and rejoice with all our hearts” (Zephaniah 3:14, NCV).

See also the two videos I recorded with two pastors at my home church: God’s People Need an Eternal Perspective During the Coronavirus Crisis and Tackling Some of the Tough Questions Related to the Coronavirus. To access many other biblical perspectives on the coronavirus crisis, visit epm.org/coronavirus, which EPM staff member Stephanie Anderson compiled and which we’ll be updating as we see great new resources.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Putting Our Hope in God’s Ownership and Provision in Times of Financial Worry

Many people, including many readers of this blog, are facing some level of financial uncertainty right now because of the coronavirus crisis. These are challenging times, and you may find yourself worrying, and wondering what the future might hold. I believe one of the best things we can do to find encouragement and perspective in times like these is to start by remembering God’s ownership.

He Owns It All

From beginning to end, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God’s ownership of everything:

“To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it” (Deuteronomy 10:14).

“The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants” (Leviticus 25:23).

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).

“Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me” (Job 41:11).

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters” (Psalm 24:1-2).

“For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it” (Psalm 50:10-12).

“‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty” (Haggai 2:8).

Not only does God own everything, but He grants us our money-making skills and determines how much of His wealth He will entrust to us:

“Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV).

“The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up” (1 Samuel 2:7, NKJV).

In my books Money, Possessions, and Eternity and Managing God’s Money, I share how a distraught man furiously rode his horse up to John Wesley, shouting, “Mr. Wesley, Mr. Wesley, something terrible has happened. Your house has burned to the ground!” Weighing the news for the moment, Wesley replied, “No. The Lord’s house burned to the ground. That means one less responsibility for me.”

Wesley’s response wasn’t the sanctimonious reply of someone who thought I’d be quoting his words hundreds of years later. We might say, “Get real,” but his reaction didn’t stem from a denial of reality. Rather, it sprang from life’s most basic reality—that God is the owner of all things, and we are simply His stewards. When we realize our possessions belong to God and not us, it removes from us the burden of worry or despair. What we value most, the treasures we will enjoy for eternity, are in Heaven, not on earth.

Will We Trust Him?

In Reflections of God’s Glory, Corrie ten Boom, who traveled the world speaking and sharing about God’s love, said, “My finances are always in the realm of God’s miracles. He is my heavenly treasurer. When I need money—and I often do—I say to Him, ‘Father in Heaven, in the Bible it says that you have cattle on a thousand hills. That’s quite a lot. Will you sell Your cows and give me the money?’ He always does so.”

If we believe that God can create us, redeem us, and bring us through death to spend eternity with Him, why can’t we take Him at His word when He says He’ll provide for our material needs? “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need” (Psalm 23:1, CSB). (God wants an opportunity either to provide for our needs or to show us that they aren’t really needs.)

Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [what you eat, drink, and wear] will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Unlike the pagans who “run after all these things” and “worry about tomorrow,” believers are told to follow Christ, live a radical life of faith, and trust God to provide (Matthew 6:25-34). In this passage, Jesus says that God cares for the birds. Yet birds aren’t created in God’s image. Christ didn’t die for birds. The Holy Spirit doesn’t indwell birds. Birds won’t reign with Christ. But we will! So Christ asks His disciples, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26). If He takes care of the less valuable creatures, will He not take care of us, who are far more valuable?

If God calls on you today to share your resources with another, you must not say, “I can’t, Lord, because I don’t know where my own provisions are coming from.” Yes, you do know where they’re coming from. They’re coming from God, the owner of all. You may not know the form this provision will take, but you do know the Source. Like the poor widow who had no cash reserves, you know that God will take care of you, even if there are no visible resources. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you won’t face hardship, including financial difficulties and pressures. It does mean that you can trust Him.

Where Is Our Hope?

Financial concerns can help us evaluate what our real hope is in. All of us trust in something. The more dependable the object of our trust and hope, the less we need to worry. The stock market isn’t God, the Wall Street Journal isn’t the Bible, your asset manager isn’t your pastor, and financial experts aren’t prophets. (Prophets were put to death when their prophecies didn’t come true!) That doesn’t mean the stock market is bad, but it does mean it’s not trustworthy. It may do well for a day, a month, a year, or even a few decades. But because the stock market is uncertain, it can only produce anxiety when it becomes the object of our trust. God is the only totally trustworthy object. Therefore, He’s the only one who cannot betray our trust.

The Apostle Paul says that the rich should not “put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but . . . in God, who richly provides” (1 Timothy 6:17). The one whose greatest riches are deposited in the bank will be destroyed when the banks fail, as will the farmer whose greatest asset is in crops when the crops fail or when the commodity markets fall. In contrast, the one whose hope is in God will be devastated only if God fails—and He never does.

Elliot Clark writes in Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission as Strangers in Our Land,

Hope for the Christian isn’t just confidence in a certain, glorious future. It’s hope in a present providence. It’s hope that God’s plans can’t be thwarted by local authorities or irate mobs, by unfriendly bosses or unbelieving husbands, by Supreme Court rulings or the next election. The Christian hope is that God’s purposes are so unassailable that a great thunderstorm of events can’t drive them off course. Even when we’re wave-tossed and lost at sea, Jesus remains the captain of the ship and the commander of the storm.

Consider these verses from the Psalms, reminding us to put our hope in God:

 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7).

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. … For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:1-2, 5).

“The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them” (Psalm 145:14-19).

May the truth of God’s ownership of all, His providence over everything, and His promise to provide for His children’s needs help you completely put your hope in Him, whatever the coming days, weeks, and months may bring.

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

Tackling Some of the Tough Questions Related to the Coronavirus

Last weekend, together with my friends Greg Cahalan and Steve Keels, pastors at my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, we recorded two messages for our church body. In our first video, which was part of Wednesday’s blog, we talked about the need for God’s people to have an eternal perspective by focusing on and studying Scripture. In this second video, we tackled some of the difficult theological and practical questions Christians may have related to the coronavirus crisis.

I hope you find the following, as well as our video discussion, helpful.

Some readers expressed concern that we were being unwise and setting a bad example by sitting together at the same table. These videos were filmed last Saturday, when the latest information we had here in Oregon was that the governor had cancelled meetings of groups over 250. Meetings over 20 were strongly discouraged, so only a few people were involved with this filming. As this last week has gone on, many families here in Oregon are now practicing social distancing and staying at least six feet apart from others. As I watched the first video, I realized I was praying with my face in or on my hands, which many of us did and by instinct will still tend to do. All the new recommendations make sense; it just takes time to retrain myself. I’m sure the new habits will sink in, probably about when this is over! But please have understanding and realize that in the past week there has been more change in interpersonal social norms than in the past 50 years! Don’t disregard this, or any message, just because brand new guidelines weren’t fully in place a week ago when we were filming.

What can we learn from Christians throughout history who have faced epidemics?

When we study history, we learn past epidemics were way more severe than anything we’ve faced. That’s not to minimize the coronavirus, because in in my lifetime, nothing like this has happened, at least here where I live. But there are, presently, terrible epidemics in other countries, including malaria and tuberculosis, that have largely not touched those of us in the modern-day U.S.

I’ve done some reading about the Plague of Cyprian, which happened in AD 249 to 262. At its peak, five thousand people died every day in Rome alone. Christians were blamed for the plague, but it became apparent that wasn’t true since Christians died long with everyone else. In fact, Christians were actually caring for those who were sick, including their pagan neighbors. Some of them died as a direct result.

Certainly we shouldn’t take unnecessary risks today. But sometimes risks are necessary for us to be obedient to Jesus. There are things worse than death, and disobedience for the believer is worse than death. Paul reminds us that “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). We don’t seek to die, of course, but we are willing to die if that’s what’s necessary to love our neighbors and serve the Lord.

Are we willing to pray, “Lord, if you’re given me a needy neighbor and it involves some risk for me to help them, then that risk is right”? That’s what God’s people have done throughout the ages with far fewer resources than we have available today. Let’s look at this as an opportunity to help others, pray for them, and bring the gospel of Jesus to them.

I am struck by how timely Martin Luther’s nearly 500 year old advice to believers is, when they were facing the Plague of 1527:

You ought to think this way: “Very well, by God’s decree the enemy has sent a pestilence… I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall… administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others… If people in a city were to show themselves bold in faith when a neighbor’s need so demands, and cautious when no emergency exists, and if everyone would help ward off contagion as best he can, then the death toll would indeed be moderate. But if some are too panicky and desert their neighbors in their plight, and if some are so foolish as to not take precautions but aggravate the contagion, then the devil has a heyday and many will die.” —Martin Luther on "Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague"

We need to remind ourselves not only of church history, but also of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world today who are still risking themselves for the good of the gospel and the glory of God.

For example, Samaritan’s Purse just sent a group of medical personal over to Italy to set up an emergency field hospital. Some of them could die in the process. This is what it looks like sometimes to follow Jesus. I am proud of them. Today our ministry is sending $10,000 to them, and we will be sending more to them or other ministries. (On this subject, I highly recommend John Piper’s small book Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It, available online for free.)

Should the Church submit to the government’s orders because of the coronavirus?

Romans 13 makes clear that God’s people should submit to the authorities God has appointed. Is there a time when Christians are compelled not to submit to the government, or even mandated not to? Yes, there are clear biblical examples of when that is necessary. Peter and the Apostles told the Sanhedrin: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Could there come a time in our culture when gathering together is illegal? That’s already true in other places around the world, such as Iran. If the time ever came in America when we were not allowed to have religious gatherings, then I would be the first to call for civil disobedience.

But now is not that time. In the video, we’re certainly not saying that we should always unconditionally obey the government, but unless there’s a compelling reason to disobey, we obey. As Greg points out, right now as churches, we just need to gather differently, through online means. The right thing to do, out of love, is to work together to try to contain this virus. (If you’re interested for more biblical perspectives on the topic of civil disobedience, see this article I wrote years ago when I was involved in civil disobedience to save the unborn.)

Is the coronavirus God’s judgment?

Could this virus be a judgment of God? Yes.

Could it be the grace of God extended to save unbelievers from the fire of hell, and to save believers from a life that’s wasted? Yes.

God is getting our attention through this crisis. Could that be His purpose? Yes.

God is disciplining us as His children to get our eyes on Him. Hebrews 12 says He disciplines us for our good.

The purpose behind this crisis is probably all of those things in one way or another, but it’s not up for us to say, “Oh, I know why that person got the Coronavirus. It’s because he’s an unbeliever.” Believers have gotten sick, too, just as they have during other plagues throughout world history.

Unless God clearly reveals it, we should never assume that an epidemic or natural disaster or moral atrocity comes upon this earth as His specific judgment on specific people. Jesus made this clear by saying that some people murdered by Pilate and those crushed by a falling tower were no worse sinners than others (see Luke 13:2–5).

Is the coronavirus a sign Jesus is coming soon?

It’s easy to say, whenever we see a crisis, “This must be the end times!” But we’ve been living in the “end times” for 2,000 years, since Jesus’ ascension. This era, in Scripture, is called the end times.

Now is this the “real” end? Christ certainly could return today, or any moment. His return has always been imminent. We need to be ready, but we also shouldn’t think, “I don’t need to plan for the future because obviously Jesus is coming very soon.” Let’s be ready for His coming, but let’s not presume we know exactly when it’s going to happen.

What if all the people throughout history who thought Jesus would return in their lifetime had been right? You and I wouldn’t have been born. So look for His coming, pray for His coming, but also look for what you can do to facilitate it. He’ll return after the last martyr is killed (Revelation 6:11) and after the last convert is converted, but meanwhile we’re to serve Him faithfully, not knowing the hour of His return, but knowing He knows and has a perfect plan. (See What Do You Think About Linking Current Events to the End Times?)

In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about storing up treasures in Heaven, not on earth. When we consider the massive amounts of money being lost in investments right now (maybe they will be restored and maybe they won’t), we should ask ourselves, “What if we hadn’t stored so much wealth on earth but had given it to God’s kingdom instead? Could we have already reached all the tribes and nations of the earth?” That’s not meant to be negative, but to make us realize the importance of a giving mentality instead of storing up so much for ourselves.

How do we balance wise planning and providing for our families with caring for the needy in our communities?

It all comes back to seeking wisdom from the Lord. He tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask Him and He “will give it generously without finding fault” (James 1:5). Let’s find a balance. When it comes to getting groceries and supplies, take a reasonable amount. Now, to some people “reasonable” means storing up a large amount, but we must remember that affects other people. The elderly and the needy are not fighting the lines at Costco. They’re not able to do that! If you do have extra, and even if you don’t, take what you have and share it.

Is there a time for planning? Sure. It can be wise to store up some extra food, all the while trusting God, and remembering that what you have is not just for you, but so that you might help others and be generous and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:18).  (For more perspectives, see my book Giving Is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy.)

To access many other biblical perspectives on the coronavirus crisis, visit  epm.org/coronavirus , which EPM staff member Stephanie Anderson compiled and which we’ll be updating as we see great new resources. You’ll find articles, videos, and audios that relate to the major themes we discussed in the video.  Please let us know  as you see other resources we might share. We are all in this together.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

God’s People Need an Eternal Perspective During the Coronavirus Crisis

Last weekend I sat down with my friends Greg Cahalan and Steve Keels, pastors at my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, and we recorded a message for our church body. For the first time in our 43-year-old history, with the exception of a few snowstorms, we were unable to physically gather. Just two days before the governor had banned all gatherings of over 250 people. Our pastors were scrambling and asked me to join them in opening God’s Word and bringing an eternal perspective to this unprecedented Coronavirus/Covid-19 crisis.

In this time, God’s people need to be reminded that He is sovereign, and is not taken by surprise. He is the God of providence who raises up not just Esther, but each of us for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Many people have told me they were touched by all the passages we were able to share emphasizing God’s sovereignty in this and all other situations.

Greg, Steve, and I discussed several passages, including Romans 8, Matthew 6, and Philippians. I appreciated Greg’s words, “Our role as followers of Jesus is to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We’re called to be witnesses to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. …We want to express our faith through love so that the people around us can give glory to our Father in Heaven.”

While we need to take reasonable precautions, of course, all of us sought to encourage people to resist the bunker mentality that withdraws from others and fails to love them as Jesus commanded us, He Himself being the greatest example for us to follow.

In order to have that right perspective, we have to turn the news off and close the social media feeds. Honestly, there’s only so much information we can handle without being overwhelmed! If we’re going to see the eternal, we have to listen to something other than all the voices of the culture. God’s Word needs to guide us. In fact, the extra time we have because of cancelled events can be a gift from the Lord, allowing us to meditate on His Word day and night (Psalm 1:2, Joshua 1:8), and to lead our families in knowing and trusting Him.

Jesus tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Then He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). This means there are some things we can do to keep from being fearful and worried about this crisis. We can go to God in prayer, talk to people of faith, and claim the true promises of God. God gives us reasons not to worry. But in order to trust Him, we’ve got to meditate on His words.

God never promises that everything in life will go smoothly. But we see in Scripture that He does promise us eternal life, forgiveness, unfailing love, faithfulness, joy, comfort, purpose, strength, His intercession, His friendship, and eternal rewards. All who know Jesus are going to have a happy ending. The story is going to have a great conclusion!

So don’t let the Coronavirus or anything else distract you from the promises of God, or rob you of living the life God has given you. Live for Jesus in the midst of this, and you may come out on the other side, as we do so many of the trials of our lives, saying, “God, you taught me more and drew me closer to you through this crisis than any other time of my life.”

God brings Christlikeness into our lives through how we respond to suffering. Our trials are not just meant to be something we endure. Trials, including the Coronavirus, are things that God can use—and desires to use—to cultivate Christlikeness and achieve something in us.

We’ve gotten amazing feedback from our church body, fully knowing that thousands of other churches across the nation and around the world were also unable to gather, many of them for the first time. And many of them were likely talking about the same kind of glorious truths we were. I hope this video discussion encourages you to have a God-honoring perspective:

To access many other biblical perspectives on the coronavirus crisis, visit epm.org/coronavirus, which EPM staff member Stephanie Anderson compiled and which we’ll be updating as we see great new resources. You’ll find articles, videos, and audios that relate to the major themes we discussed in the video. Please let us know as you see other resources we might share. We are all in this together.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Ray Ortlund on How God Will Use Time and Trials to Accomplish His Purpose for You

This article by Ray Ortlund is thought-provoking and on target. Though his advice focuses on young men in ministry, his message is applicable for every believer of every age and vocation.

Ray writes, “Only men with scars can preach a Savior with scars to sinners with scars. So, in addition to the many insights and skills God will impart to you, he also will wound you. …At some point in your life, God will injure you so extremely that the self-reliance you aren’t even aware of, the self-reliance you’ve been navigating so consistently by that it feels natural and innocent, will collapse under the loss and anguish. You will start realizing, ‘Oh, so this is what it means to trust the Lord.’”

After forty-five years in ministry, I completely agree. I’ve learned we can’t become humble and fully useful to God’s work without experiencing tears and trials. It just doesn’t happen. Notice Paul ties these together when he talks to church leaders: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials” (Acts 20:18-19).

As Nanci and I navigate life with her ongoing battle with cancer, we are not fighting God, but are trusting Him daily and seeing Him at work. Through this trial, as with others, over the course of time, God is accomplishing something very precious. He is making us into deeper and more Christlike people, marked forever by Jesus’ grace, so that He can use us in greater, unexpected ways to impact His kingdom. God tells us, “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36, NLT). I hope you find this article as helpful and ultimately encouraging as I did. —Randy Alcorn

Your Ministry Will Take a Lifetime: My Counsel for Younger Men

By Ray Ortlund

Some of us can read a text like “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18) and wonder why our light still feels so dim.

The verse teaches that if you are walking with the Lord, your life is dawning more and more with “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The passing years of his care are making you more compelling, more relevant, more fruitful — not less. And someday soon your glory will blaze like the noonday sun, never to fade.

This article is for every young man who feels that his glory is taking too long to become obvious. This is for every young man in ministry who feels restless and eager and ambitious (with godly ambition) for more opportunities to make his mark for Christ. Yes, you have mixed motives. Who doesn’t? But your desire to cut a wide swath of gospel harvest is of God.

He did not create you to be a zero. He created you in his image, as royalty, to advance his purposes in this world (Genesis 1:26). You are a man of destiny, and you feel it. So let’s think about your life trajectory — what to expect, how to navigate it well. I offer my thoughts as an older man, who respects how you feel. Let me offer you three words of counsel, prompted by Scripture, for when your ministry seems to be growing too slowly.

Give Yourself Time

First, “Let them also be tested first” (1 Timothy 3:10). The apostle Paul required that of prospective deacons. But a young man being tested, giving him time to prove his readiness for leadership, is implicit in the requirements of an elder too. A future elder must be faithful in marriage, able to teach, manage his own household well, not a recent convert, and well thought of by outsiders (1 Timothy 3:1–7). No one gets there quickly or easily.

You might feel more ready than you really are. Maybe you’ve looked at an older Christian leader in action and thought, “I could do what he’s doing — and maybe better.” But what that man is doing is harder than it looks. When a senior leader is performing well and people are responding and the ministry is flourishing, the reality is this: Hidden deep within that man, nuanced understandings and finely-honed skills and mature disciplines are converging, moment by moment, to make him compelling.

All those inner strengths and assets of his were hard won over many years — and through some failures too. When a pastor, for example, makes the ministry look easy, you can be sure of one thing: it isn’t. He was tested first. He is being tested now. Even in a man’s mature years, ministry is always extremely demanding. Joyful and satisfying, but demanding.

I am not exalting him or diminishing you. I am only saying that a man in his sixties, if he has walked humbly with God and striven to keep growing and growing, is a more profound man than he himself was in his thirties. How could it be otherwise? So, give yourself time. God is faithfully investing in you, more than you can see. He values you. He is preparing you for the final, climactic mission of your life and your death. Don’t resent his maturing process along the way.

His plan, his timing, his methods are well suited to get you ready for the greatest moments of your life still out ahead. But if your pride can’t stoop to being tested first, you are blocking the very future you long for. Humble yourself, be patient, go deep. And don’t forget to enjoy it along the way. The Lord is with you and for you. Obviously, he isn’t in any hurry. Why should you be?

Embrace His Power in Weakness

Second, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Here is why this familiar verse is in the Bible. In our foolishness, we all want to be formidable, impressive, noteworthy, with super-powers to “wow” the world. But how can men like that preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)? Only men with scars can preach a Savior with scars to sinners with scars. So, in addition to the many insights and skills God will impart to you, he also will wound you. A.W. Tozer wisely said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.”

At some point in your life, God will injure you so extremely that the self-reliance you aren’t even aware of, the self-reliance you’ve been navigating so consistently by that it feels natural and innocent, will collapse under the loss and anguish. You will start realizing, “Oh, so this is what it means to trust the Lord. I need him now with an urgency, a desperation, a seriousness of purpose deeper than ever before.”

And then God will come through for you. And you will emerge from that suffering a deeper saint. You will be a better preacher and pastor and leader and counselor and teacher and friend, because you will be a better man — more like the wounded Christ himself.

But if you “succeed” early, and crowds of people are flocking to you, and the undiscerned cockiness you grew up with isn’t broken, you may be in danger. I have seen highly gifted young men crash and burn and lose years of fruitful ministry, or even leave the ministry altogether, because their platform exceeded their character.

Don’t envy that “rising star.” He might be more precarious than he appears. You just stay low before the Lord. Humbly receive the buffetings, disappointments, and insults coming your way. Receive them “for the sake of Christ” (2 Corinthians 12:10). They are how his power will come to rest upon you (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Don’t Grope at Your Destiny

Third, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me” (Psalm 138:8). You never have to get pushy, because the Lord has a purpose for you, and that purpose belongs to him. John Burroughs, the poet, was not a Christian. But his poem “Waiting” says a very Christian thing:

Asleep, awake, by night or day,
     The friends I seek are seeking me,
No wind can drive my bark astray
     Nor change the tide of destiny.

Because the Lord is committed to his purpose for you, the friends and the opportunities you seek are seeking you. They are on their way toward you this very moment. Believe it, and rejoice as God tells the story you were born for. The best way to get ready for your future is to walk humbly, fruitfully, and cheerfully with Christ right where you are. Through the years, he will give you a front-row seat for watching him fulfill his purpose for you.

Seek the Lowest Place

Francis Schaeffer, in his prophetic sermon “No Little People, No Little Places,” warned us all,

Jesus commands Christians to seek consciously the lowest room. All of us — pastors, teachers, professional religious workers and non-professional included — are tempted to say, “I will take the larger place, because it will give me more influence for Jesus Christ.” Both individual Christians and Christian organizations fall prey to the temptation of rationalizing this way as we build bigger and bigger empires. But according to the Scripture this is backwards: We should consciously take the lowest place, unless the Lord himself extrudes us into a greater one.

Schaeffer went on to explain that, in a lower, less intense place of ministry, we face fewer distractions away from our own intimacy with God. And it is only in personal quietness before God that we can do anything that is truly spiritual in power. It is only as we remain quiet before him that we contribute to the real battle being fought in our generation.

Settle into the place where you are. Deeply accept your present moment. It is where Jesus is nearest to you. It is where his endless resources open up to you, moment by moment: “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you!” (Psalm 31:19).

This article originally appeared on Desiring God and is used with permission of the author.

Photo by Matt Duncan on Unsplash

Romans 8:28 May Be Often-Quoted and Even Misused, But May We Never Grow Tired of Its Precious Truth

Is it possible to overuse a verse of Scripture? Certainly it is easy to misuse a verse, and in the process be robbed of its true riches.

Romans 8:28 is one of the best known verses in the whole Bible: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Did I say this was one of the “best known” verses of Scripture? Let me revise that statement. It is one of the most often quoted verses of Scripture. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to quote a verse without really knowing it.

When I was in high school, I had a friend that I really looked up to. Greg was bright, talented, and most importantly he deeply loved the Lord Jesus. Unlike some of our other Christian friends, Greg was going somewhere for God. If anyone had a promising life of ministry ahead of him, surely it was Greg.

Early one Friday evening in the spring of my junior year, the phone rang. Greg had just had a freak accident. He was in a great deal of pain, and the doctors were not sure if he would pull through. I remember like it was yesterday staying up all night, sitting on the hospital floor, praying, numbly, staring at the “intensive care” sign that stood between me and Greg. I prayed for healing, and I had strong faith that God would answer. It never occurred to me that His answer might be “no.” It was. A few days later Greg entered the presence of Jesus.

Greg’s father was not a Christian, and he was understandably a broken man. Many of us who were Christians had opportunity to share with him. I will never forget when one of my brothers in Christ said to Greg’s dad, “You know, the Bible says all things work together for good.” His reaction was both understandable and predictable. He was angry and bitter, not only at Greg’s death, but at the sheer audacity of someone apparently labeling his son’s tragic death as “good.”

While I realized that this feeble attempt at comfort was well intended, it hurt me as much as anyone. To me it was a thoughtless and insensitive platitude that was totally inappropriate and untimely. Since then in my ministry I have seen a great deal more accidents and sickness than I care to think about. And more than once I have heard Romans 8:28 used in the wrong way at the wrong time.

Can I make a confession? For a while, I didn’t even like to hear Romans 8:28. In a strange sort of way, I almost resented it. But finally I came to my senses. I began to realize that if there was a problem, it was with the user of the verse, not the verse itself. I had been guilty of throwing out the baby of divine truth with the bath water of human insensitivity.

There are at least two key things which we need to understand about Romans 8:28 in order to use it in the right way. First, the verse is a statement of fact about believers, “those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” It is one of those precious pearls that should not be cast at the feet of unbelievers. They cannot possibly understand its significance, and are likely to gain from it a perverted view of God, or an image of the Christian faith being a naïve game of “let’s pretend everything is rosy, even when the roof caves in.” The often-quoted verse that unbelievers need to hear is John 3:16, not Romans 8:28.

The second essential point about Romans 8:28 is that the focus is not on isolated events in the believer’s life, but on the sum total of all events. Do you see the difference between saying “each thing by itself is good” and “all things work together for good”? Think about it. The difference is tremendous. The verse does not tell me I should say “it is good” if my leg gets broken, or my house burns down, or I am robbed and beaten, or my child dies. But it does say that God will use these events and weave them together with every other facet of my life in order to produce what He knows to be the very best for me.

When I was young, my mother used to bake delicious cakes. Before she made a cake, she would lay out each one of the ingredients on the kitchen counter. One day I decided to try an experiment. One by one I tasted each one of the individual ingredients to a chocolate cake. Think about it. Have you ever tasted baking powder? How about baking soda? The flour was horribly bland, and I won’t try to describe the raw egg. Even the “semi-sweet” chocolate tasted terribly bitter compared to the sweet milk chocolate I was used to eating. To sum it up, almost everything that goes into a cake tastes terrible by itself. The striking thing was that when my mother mixed it all together in the right amounts, placed it in the oven, and then laid it out to cool, an amazing metamorphosis took place. The cake was delicious. Isn’t that something? While the individual ingredients tasted terrible, the final product tasted terrific! If I would have judged the whole cake on the basis of the individual ingredients, I would never have believed it could be good.

Do you see the analogy to Romans 8:28? The individual ingredients of trials and apparent tragedies that come into our lives are neither “delicious” nor desirable. In fact, at first taste they are often very bland or even bitter. But God (shall I call Him the Master Baker?) is capable of carefully measuring out and mixing up these ingredients in order to produce a final product that is truly good. He does not ask us to immediately see every individual event as wonderful. He does expect us to trust that He is sovereignly at work even in that event, and will use it in concert with everything else for our very best good.

Once I heard a pastor say, “I’m tired of hearing people tritely use Romans 8:28.” So am I. But I am not tired of Romans 8:28 itself and pray that I never will be. When you use this powerfully explosive verse (and you should use it), handle it with care. But whatever you do, don’t stay away from it. The truth it contains can change your whole outlook on life.

I share some more thoughts on Romans 8:28 in this video interview with Greg Laurie:

For more on Romans 8:28 and suffering, see Randy's book If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil. 

Photo by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash

Worry, the Coronavirus, and Corrie ten Boom on God’s Provision for Each Moment

As coronavirus cases continue to crop up across the U.S., many people are struggling with fear over the future. As followers of Jesus, what should our response be?

Our brothers and sisters in China have been wrestling with the answer to that question for the last two months. One Chinese pastor wrote, “We are to seek peace for this city, seek peace for those who are afflicted with this illness, seek peace for the medical personnel struggling on the front lines, seek peace for every government official at every level, seek peace for all the people of Wuhan. And we can through online networks guide and comfort our friends and loved ones with the Gospel, reminding them that our lives are not in our own hands, and to entrust their lives to God who is faithful and true.” May the example of these Chinese believers inspire and encourage those of us in the West.

For more perspectives from those in the U.S., check out this excellent episode of Ask Pastor John. Trillia Newbell, who I really appreciate, shares these thoughts on choosing faith over fear in the midst of concerns over the coronavirus.

Also, don’t miss this great article by Pastor Todd Wagner answering the question, “Should Christians Be Anxious About the Coronavirus?” He writes, “Worry is not our friend, and panic is not our way. Solomon reminds us, ‘If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small’ (Prov. 24:10). May it never be said that God’s people are governed more by fear than faith. …In times of crisis, the world needs steady people who are strengthened by God’s grace and selfless by God’s power. ”

Todd also quotes from Corrie ten Boom, who said, “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.” A friend recently shared the following from Corrie, taken from the book Reflections of God’s Glory, which is a collection of her transcribed radio broadcasts. What she had to say about worry and God’s provision is wonderfully applicable today:

Once, I had a burden that weighed heavily on me. I set it down and looked at it. Then I saw that everything about my burden was borrowed. One part belonged to the following day, one part to the next week. My burden was a huge, stupid mistake. I realized that worrying is carrying tomorrow’s burden with today’s strength. It’s carrying two days at once. It’s prematurely thinking of tomorrow. On the calendar, there is only one day for action, and that is today.

Making plans is time-consuming. Time is necessary for making wise plans, but carrying them out belongs to only one day—today. We become concerned about the future—our financial concerns, our health. Where does this lead to? Nowhere. Nowhere that is worth the trouble because tension ruins things. It depletes the energy that you need to live today. The Holy Spirit does not give you a clear blueprint for your life, but He leads you from moment to moment. Live for today! The sun will shine on the problems that tomorrow brings.

I read somewhere, “Why don’t we look for something that is easier than anxiety? Worried people are like tightrope walkers, trying to walk over a rope from the past to the future, balancing between hope and fear. In one hand they hold a bag with the disordered past, in the other bag, the feared future. Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s grief; it takes away today’s strength. It does not enable us to avoid evil, but it makes us incapable of dealing with it when it comes.”

I once heard a nice story, a kind of legend. A small clock, which had just been finished by its maker, was put on a shelf in his shop between two old clocks that were busily and loudly ticking away the seconds. “So,” said one of the old clocks to the newcomer, “you’ve just started this task. I feel sorry for you. You are bravely ticking now, but you’ll be very tired once you’ve ticked thirty-three million times.”

“Thirty-three million ticks?” said the startled clock, “but I could never do that!” He immediately stopped in desperation.

“Come on, stupid,” said the other clock. “Why do you listen to such talk? That’s not how things are. At each moment you only need to tick once. Isn’t that easy? And then again. That’s just as easy. Carry on like that.”

“Oh, if that’s all,” the new clock cried, “then that’s easy enough. Off I go.” And he began to bravely tick each moment, without paying attention to the months and the millions of ticks. When the year was up, he had ticked thirty-three million times without realizing it.

Yes, living for the moment, that’s what you need. The Lord’s prayer says, “Give us today our daily bread.” …A person does not fall so much because of the troubles of one day, but if tomorrow’s burden is added, this load can become very, very heavy. It is wonderfully easy to live just for the day.

I share some more thoughts on worry, and three ways we can deal with it positively, in this article.

From Eternal Perspective Ministries

With the Coronavirus outbreak, China has been in the news frequently. We know that Christians are reaching out to the sick and scared, and sharing the hope of Jesus. In the face of such desperation and fear, many are responding to the gospel. These believers are counting the cost, because the last few years have proven that persecution of Chinese Christians continues. Open Doors USA reports, “From church demolitions, to the arrests of pastors, to the restriction of Bibles, to the law that bans children from church—the patterns are clear. …The government in China is trying to suffocate the faith of Chinese Christians.”

Although it was first released almost 20 years ago, the message of Randy Alcorn’s novel Safely Home remains relevant and timely today. Right now, you can purchase his novel from our ministry for $8 (50% off retail $15.99), plus S&H. We hope its story will encourage you to intercede for our brothers and sisters in China. Sale ends Thursday, March 12 at 12 pm PT (noon). 

Photo by Phil Desforges on Unsplash

Greg Laurie on the Great Privilege of Being a Pastor

Over the years Greg Laurie has become a dear friend. He first contacted me after his son Christopher tragically died. Since then, he has invited me to speak five times at the churches in Riverside and Orange where he is senior pastor. Once when we were both speaking in Maui, we met up and had a glorious time together with his Cathe and my Nanci.

Greg has written a powerful article about what it means to be a pastor—specifically the difficulties and privileges. I was a pastor for fourteen years and had intended to be a pastor the rest of my life before God intervened and abruptly moved us to start a new ministry. Knowing Greg and having dear friends who are pastors, I can attest to the truth of this article. I hope it helps you to understand and pray for your pastors. —Randy Alcorn

Why Being a Pastor Is Still the Greatest Privilege in the World

By Greg Laurie

Being a pastor is hard.

Many churchgoers may not realize this because they tend to see us at our best. After all, our job is to encourage others, love them and give them hope. But our jobs are not always easy.

Recently, a reporter emailed me to ask for my thoughts on the intense stresses that clergy in America face. I told him, “People may think pastors simply preach sermons, do an occasional wedding and have a relatively easy life. That is simply not true. In reality, we often find ourselves dealing with some of the hardest situations imaginable: like trying to help save a marriage that’s on life support, attempting to give hope to a young person who is addicted to drugs or offering comfort to a family that just lost a child. Perhaps the hardest part is people find it easy to critique us each step of the way as well.”

Then I added, “Pastors are people, just like everyone else. We are broken people who live in a broken world. Sometimes, we need help too.”

These last few sentences were later quoted in an article that has gotten a lot of attention.

I know I am not alone in feeling this way.

The reporter also interviewed another pastor who said, quite frankly, “Had  I known the ugly side of ministry – the hospital visits, burying the dead, being in the room when someone is dying and trying to comfort their family ... Had I known all that, I don’t think I would have accepted being a pastor.”

I understand how this pastor feels because I have been in his shoes many times and have struggled with the same feelings. Yet my experiences have driven me to draw a different conclusion: I have found that the hardest times in ministry — the points when I have felt like giving up — have confirmed my calling as a pastor. It’s in these moments I have experienced the most profound expressions of God’s love and grace.

I have been a pastor for almost 50 years, and I consider it a great honor.

Yes, I have been with parents when they heard the news that their loved one died.

Yes, I have presided at the funerals of, sadly, many children.

Yes, I have spoken to people on their deathbeds.

But I don’t consider that the “ugly” side of ministry — it is actually a great privilege. Because I, too, have been on the other end and needed a pastor’s comfort.

When my son Christopher died in an automobile accident in 2008, I was not the pastor called in for support, I was the person in need of a pastor.

My pastor was Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. He helped me when I was at my lowest. I still remember his words to me as I struggled with the question, “Why did my son die?”

He said, “Never trade what you do know for what you don’t know.”

What a powerful statement.

I know that God loves me.

I know that my son went to Heaven, not because he was my son but because he had put his faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

And I know, because we are believers, that we will be reunited again in Heaven.

I knew these things. I had said them to others, but I needed to hear them myself. The Bible says, “We comfort with the comfort that we have been comforted with” (2 Cor. 1:4).

I realize some clergy are overwhelmed and discouraged with all of the demands that are placed on them. We are often misunderstood and criticized. The criticism often can be ruthless.

But when I think of how God has allowed me to help people in their darkest valleys of life — just as I was helped in mine — I’m encouraged and reminded that our work is worth it.

As an evangelist, I have the privilege of speaking in stadiums with thousands of people listening, calling them to believe in Jesus Christ. But my greatest joy is helping people one-on-one: seeing families put back together, people strung out on drugs set free and suicidal people changing course.

I think of a note a woman who reads my online daily devotional sent me.

“Dear Greg,” she wrote. “Thank you for your daily devotions that I receive via email. They have helped me as I deal with chronic pain every day. I’ve shared them with several people close to me who are going through cancer; it helps them too. I open your email every morning, first thing, and it encourages me to get through the day. It’s like opening a present. Keep the faith!”

So, I am not discouraged.

As C.S. Lewis writes in The Great Divorce, “Here is joy that cannot be shaken. Our light can swallow up your darkness; but your darkness cannot now infect our light.”

Life is not easy, and there will be days when you may question the purpose of it all. But whatever dark valley you may be walking through, remember this: hope has a name, and his name is Jesus.

This article originally appeared on Greg’s blog , and is used with permission of the author.

Photo: Christianpics.co

A Legacy of Trust Through Suffering, and God’s Promise to Make Up for the Heartbreaks of This Earth

In my book Heaven, I share how years ago, Nanci read me letters we’d never before seen translated, written in 1920 by her grandmother Anna Swanson to her family in Sweden. Anna suffered severe health problems. While she was in Montana, cared for by relatives, her husband, Edwin, was in Oregon, working and caring for their seven children day and night. (Anna and Edwin are with five of their children in the picture; two more were to come. Nanci's mother, Adele, is sitting on Edwin's lap.)

Anna’s letters tell how Edwin wore himself out, got sick, and died. Because Anna was too weak to care for her younger children, they, including Nanci’s mother, Adele, were given up for adoption. Anna’s letters reflect her broken heart, her nagging guilt . . . and her faith in God.

Nanci and I were overcome with tears as we read those letters. What tragic lives. What inconsolable disappointment and pain. Anna and Edwin loved Jesus. They once had great dreams for their lives and family. But poor health, misfortune, separation, and death forever stripped them of each other, their children, and their dreams.

Or did it?

As Nanci and I talked, we considered what God might choose to give this broken family on the New Earth. Perhaps they’ll go together to places they would have gone if health and finances had allowed. Certainly Anna won’t be plagued by illness, fatigue, grief, anxiety, and guilt. Isn’t it likely their gracious God, who delights in redemption and renewal and restoration, will give them wonderful family times they were robbed of on the old Earth? Perhaps the God of second chances won’t merely comfort Anna by removing her grief for what she lost. Perhaps He will in some way actually restore what she lost. Our God won’t just take away suffering; He’ll compensate by giving us greater delights than if there had been no suffering. He doesn’t merely wipe away tears; he replaces those tears with corresponding joys. Hence, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

I believe the New Earth will offer us opportunities we wished for but never had. God’s original plan was that human beings would live happy and fulfilling lives on Earth. If our current lives are our only chances at that, God’s plan has been thwarted. Consider the injustice—many honest, faithful people never got to live fulfilling lives, while some dishonest and unfaithful people seemed to fare much better.

But God is not unjust, and this is not our only chance at life on Earth. The doctrine of the New Earth clearly demonstrates that. Do we have further biblical support for this? I believe we do.

Luke the physician tells of a great number of people who came to Jesus “to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all” (Luke 6:18-19). Consider what was going through Christ’s mind as He dealt with these image-bearers plagued by sickness, poverty, and spiritual oppression. He knew the world was full of people whom he wouldn’t heal in this life. He also knew that the same people He healed would one day grow weak again and die, leaving their families wailing over their graves. What could Jesus say to such people? Luke tells us: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven” (Luke 6:20-23).

Jesus tells the hungry they’ll be satisfied. Those whose eyes are swollen with tears will laugh. Those persecuted should leap for joy now. Why? Because of their great reward in Heaven later.

Where will Heaven be? In the parallel passage Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3-5). Earth is the setting for God’s ultimate comfort, for His reversal of life’s injustices and tragedies. We will live on what we inherit—the earth. All the blessings Jesus promised will be ours in the place we will live—the New Earth.

That’s one reason I believe that on the New Earth Anna and Edwin Swanson and their children will be able to experience much of what they didn’t on the old Earth. God promises to make up for the heartbreaks of this earth.

I wanted to share this story again because Nanci’s sister, Donna Schneider, recently sent Nanci and their brother Ron this note:

You are familiar with the letters that our family has from the Swanson family. I happened to pull out one of these letters recently and noticed the date.

One hundred years ago, on March 3, 1920, my grandmother Anna Swanson wrote a letter to her family in Sweden giving them the sad news that her husband, Edwin, had died on February 25.

Since Anna was in ill health she was unable to care for her seven children, ages newborn to 12 years. Now she was faced with a decision about the care and future of her children.

Below is a quote from this letter that gives me a window into her life and her faith in God:

“Yes, the Lord’s ways are strange. It would almost tear the heart from my breast. If I didn’t have God to trust in I don’t know how it would go.”

Anna provided a wonderful legacy of faith.

Anna probably never dreamed that 100 years after she wrote that letter, her grandchildren (and her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren) would be reading her words and be touched by her trust in God.

Both Nanci and I look forward to meeting Anna and Edwin and thanking them for their example of faith in Jesus. We also can’t wait to see how our faithful God has comforted them and how He will fulfill their dreams on the New Earth.

Walking Through Cancer with a Loved One

I recently had the privilege of visiting the Joni and Friends headquarters in Agoura Hills, California. I highly recommend that churches and families and individuals support this wonderful ministry, which was founded by Joni Eareckson Tada. She is the real deal, start to finish, and everyone I’ve met at Joni and Friends who serves with her is passionate about Jesus and about reaching people for Christ. It was delightful to sit beside Joni and her wonderful husband Ken, who I always rejoice to see as well. Just hearing Joni’s beautiful voice as we worshipped the Lord singing hymns was worth the trip!

While I was there, I was asked to record a few episodes for their podcast, including one about the journey Nanci and I have been on since her diagnosis with colon cancer in early 2018.  We talked about our relationship, hope, and practical ways to encourage those who are facing similar challenges:

Since we recorded the podcast, Nanci had a CT scan, and we recently received the results. There was some good news: nothing new was found in any other organs. The original tumor site in the lower colon is still clear. That’s cause for great gratitude.

There was also some news for which we deeply appreciate your continued prayers. One of the nodules in Nanci’s lungs has grown from 2 to 5 mm, and a new 5 mm nodule has developed. (There are 3 other nodules which remained in her lungs after surgery and they have not changed.) We are grateful that the tests showed no large-scale growth and movement, but we are obviously concerned.

Though this remains stage four cancer, Nanci’s team of doctors say they are still working toward a cure, which they believe is possible. (You can read the full update on Nanci’s Caring Bridge page, including some wonderful words from Charles Spurgeon that have greatly encouraged both of us.)

For more related to the subject of suffering, see Randy’s book If God Is Good, as well as the devotional 90 Days of God’s Goodness and book The Goodness of God. Also, the booklet If God Is Good, Why Do We Hurt? deals with the question and shares the gospel so that both unbelievers and believers can benefit.

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash