Mark Adcock is pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship in Fortville.
It seems that everywhere we turn today, someone is in crisis. As Christians, we probably have a whole prayer list that revolves around people we know and love going through hard times of crisis.
As I write this, scores of people in the eastern part of the United States are in terrible straits due to the devastation of Hurricane Helene. And unfortunately, the people of Florida have Hurricane Milton bearing down on them with winds nearing 150 miles per hour.
I know the media often overdramatize headlines to get readership. But I know firsthand about the crisis a storm can bring about, having grown up on the Gulf Coast. I have ridden out a dozen or so hurricanes. Most were not that devastating. But when Hurricane Katrina hit, my family home was completely destroyed. Recovering was painful, to say the least.
The purpose of this column is to look at how we can use crises in our lives to grow us in character and faith. Perhaps you have heard a quote often credited to Winston Churchill: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Whether or not Churchill said this does not matter for this column. What does matter is how we deal with crises in our lives.
Most of the time a crisis will either draw us closer to God, or it will cause us to run from Him. My encouragement to you today is to run hard after God when you find yourself in places of peril.
A month ago my father-in-law passed away suddenly. He was well loved, and his passing brought about a significant amount of trauma. Once again, I was reminded about the challenges of life and how they are often used by God to grow His children.
If you are facing a crisis today, I want to invite you to read from James 1:2-4. James writes: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
At first read, this seems absolutely insane. Who counts their trials to be a great joy? But James helps us develop a godly understanding of how to handle hardships and crises. He seems to be calling us as Christians to be thankful that God has brought something hard into our lives, because the crisis is God’s curriculum that will be used to grow us in faith and character.
Perhaps the quote is right: “We ought not to ever waste a crisis.” We should allow God to use the trials to mature us and complete us. Even when things are hard, walk through the hard times with confident assurance that God is with you, and He has a purpose in your trial.
So, when you walk through a hard time, don’t waste it. May your prayer life grow deeper. And may your faith in God become stronger. And may you experience the mighty hand of God providing for you as you persevere until you overcome.
Mark Adcock is pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship in Fortville. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
