Many of us have had specific verses of Scripture that have ministered to us in special ways at different times.  Some of us have even had life verses that God has used to guide and give direction to our lives.  When I was a boy, I was given a New Testament by my home church with a verse from 2 Timothy 2:15 inscribed inside the front cover, “[Study] to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”  Although this was never consciously my life verse, in hindsight, it did seem prophetic as it has summed up much of God’s call on my life. 

Now that I am entering a new season of life, another passage has become more meaningful as a summary of what I believe is God’s present calling on my life.  It is Colossians 1:28-29, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”  Pray for me that I would be faithful to this calling in whatever opportunities He provides.

These are difficult days.  We have heard and read many stories of great and almost unprecedented sufferings in both Afghanistan and Haiti.  Many of them involve our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  One of these countries involves a manmade disaster, the other a natural one.  The question is how do we respond to these tragedies?  Helen and I have been praying both day and night for both of these situations.  Our one hope and comfort lies in our wholehearted belief in the sovereignty of God, namely that God is God and that He is working out His sovereign purposes in this present world, even at times when He allows great suffering and loss of life.  There is the promise in Scripture that “all things work together for good,” especially and specifically “for those who love God,” and “who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).  Jesus tells us that His overarching plan for this present age is that He is perfecting His church “so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians. 5:27).  We can only conclude that these present sufferings are part of this perfecting process. 

Certainly the present scenarios remind us once again not to put our hope and confidence in human governments.  God is after the trust of His people, and sometimes He shows us the futility of human resources.  Jesus also describes these kinds of tragedies as signs leading up to His return in Matthew 24:7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”  Jesus also warns His disciples specifically of coming religious persecution in John 16:2, “the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”  Thus, we currently see Christians and church leaders singled out for special attack by groups such as the Taliban.  At the same time, Paul reminds us that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).  Peter goes so far as to tell us, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). 

We don’t necessarily understand these things, but still God calls us to trust Him.  At the same time, God calls us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15), even as we plead with God for His special presence and grace for those in the midst of sufferings such as we have never seen or experienced.  We can’t help but wonder what it would be like if our roles were reversed and we were experiencing what others are in the broader household of faith.  Our hearts grieve for them, even as we pray and look to the Lord for the hope that only He can give.