Pandemic Progress?
Take a moment to ponder this question: Has your faith grown stronger during the Pandemic?
If not, why not? If yes, what has God been doing?
That may sound a bit pointed, but we all know God expects and uses trials and tribulations to intentionally grow our faith with our willing cooperation.
The Pew Research Center reported on January 21, 2021, that 49% of white evangelicals (insufficient sample sizes for religious subgroups including Black Protestants) said their faith has grown due to COVID-19 (see full report).
Only 49% of “the most religious groups in the country”??
Something is wrong with this statistic. Does this reveal more tares among the wheat? Expose fleshly weaknesses? Lack of faith engagement? Influence from the schemes of the Devil? Deficiency in the church’s one-another ministry?
Let’s remember what God has said:
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).
“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
“And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
How should you and I respond?
Make sure you are processing your trials as designed growth opportunities. Stay faithful to all the growth resources God has given (His Word, prayer, ministry of the Holy Spirit, one-anothers, church gatherings). Take a quick glance at some of the Benefits and Blessings of Suffering.
Make sure you are checking in on your brothers and sisters around you who may need some encouragement and care. You may need to track down those who are disconnected and struggling with fear or anxiety or loneliness or difficult circumstances among other challenges.
I wonder what percentage of Christ’s Church can say their faith has grown in the midst of COVID-19? I would hope more than 49%.
No matter what the percentage, we all know we need to grow and that our faith family members need to grow, so let’s not miss out on God-ordained opportunities to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Pastor Jeff