Bringing the Word of Comfort to a World in Pain
BELGIUM — In this world of economic hardship and trouble, when the church and its missionaries struggle more than ever on a personal level, and at national and international levels to bring the gospel to a hurting world, it is good to remember that the church has an answer for hardship and trouble.
The people live in a province called Zeeland (literally, “land of the sea”) and come from a hardy stock of fishermen and sailors who played an important part in Dutch history. One might expect these people to be tough and resilient (and they are), but as rugged as they are, they still experience pain in life’s tragedies and catastrophes as much as anyone.
On a recent Sunday, I was privileged to share with them a text from 2 Corinthians 4:8,9, in which Paul reminds us there will be times in our lives that we will be hard-pressed in every direction, as far as the eye can see. There will be times we are so perplexed that we are at the end of our wits. At times we will pay a heavy price for our faith. At times we will be struck flat on our backs, unable to move.
Nonetheless, Paul assures us that at such times, we will not be crushed, nor need we suffer despair, neither will we be forsaken, nor destroyed. The pastor of this little church had just lost his niece after a long struggle with cancer. It was a great blow to the church and to the pastor who had prayed for so long for this wonderful young Christian lady. Yet, the word of God remained true and provided comfort and solace in the storms of life.
What a wonderful God we have, who provides strength in our weakness, to show that he is not only glorified in our strength, but all the more in our weakness.
In this world of economic hardship and trouble, when the church and its missionaries struggle more than ever on a personal level, and at national and international levels to bring the gospel to a hurting world, it is good to remember that the church has an answer for hardship and trouble. And that in the end, we always win, because we have a God who provides eternal life for us, even though He also answers prayers miraculously.
Romans 8:31-32: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Chris Swift
Missionary to Belgium
Project Number 060-0087
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