Are We Prepared?

This post is first and foremost for my Trailhead family.  But if you stumbled upon it, welcome.

During this pandemic Steve and I find ourselves having a conversation that I am sure many pastors and many churches are having.  Are our people ready for what is ahead?  In a moment of utter exhaustion Steve asked me what more he needs to do to prepare Trailhead for the craziness:  the separation, the fear, the isolation, the uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic and seemingly an economy that is reeling.  There are obviously very practical things that we all can and need to do -  things to protect ourselves and to support our community and those in need.  But spiritually... are we as a church ready?

Y'all!  It brought tears to my eyes to be able to look Steve in the eyes and say, yes, we are ready!  Not that we are eagerly anticipating this, but we have been well prepared spiritually.  How do I know?  Here a few thoughts.

We know these things to be true:

As Christ followers our identity is sealed and eternal.  Being afraid does not change that.  We belong to God.
When we are afraid, we know that this fear does not disqualify us from God's love.  It does not remove us from His presence.  It does not mean that we are not worthy or even useful to God.  It doesn't even make me ineffective in my service to Him.  There is no shame in fear!  It is yet again another opportunity to press into the love of God.  Nothing - my fear of death or even death itself - can separate those who follow Christ from the love of God (Read Romans 8:31-39) He is not far away.  He has not abandoned us. Our lives have been redeemed and sealed in Him (Ephesians 1:13-14).  We are His!

As Christ followers we will suffer.  Our Savior suffered.  We will be like Him!
We often talk about the loss of Shalom.  The peace of this world is broken.  There is suffering.  COVID19 is showing this in ways some of us have never imagined.  But we are not surprised by suffering.  Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Psalm 53).  His life was not exempt from suffering and ours will not be either.  But our hope isn't in having a life free of hardships.  Our hope is in a Savior who was willing to die for us - in our place.  He took what we deserved and in return gave us everlasting peace  (shalom) with God.  Our pain and suffering is an invitation to sit with Jesus and to be like Him.  He is present with us.  He has not abandoned us.   Jesus experienced death and was victorious over it.   It is also an invitation to sit with our neighbors and mourn the brokenness that we see and to share the hope that is within us!

As Christ followers we know that God's promises are true and they depend on HIS faithfulness, not our faithfulness!
I'm sure that you have read Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning: great is your faithfulness." But don't overlook verses 16-17:  "He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is."  This explains the state of my soul in times like the current pandemic.  But verse 21! "But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Great is Your faithfulness."  Now reread verses 22-23!  In times of fear and anxiety we must call to mind the hope that is within us!  Our hope isn't in our ability to save ourselves - to do better or try harder.  Our response to fear and anxiety isn't to pull ourselves together or to "believe in myself".  Our hope is God and HIS faithfulness.  The good news of the Gospel is that His mighty work of salvation on my behalf is a gift.  I do not have to earn it.  It is grace freely given. Verse 24 states:  "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him."

As Christ followers we can have joy.
Often in our anxiety and our fear there is nothing we can do but beg God for more of His grace, throwing ourselves at the feet of Jesus. He is our hope.  And our hope is unsinkable!  (See Tim Keller's sermon entitled Peace - Overcoming Anxiety 2-18-1990.). This pandemic and shelter at home proclamation can wreak havoc with our emotions.  Happiness seems fleeting.  But happiness comes from the comfort of things.  Joy comes from comfort in the Giver of things.  The Bible says that we can be joyful AND sad at the same time.  Joy is a spiritual buoyancy that comes when you rejoice in God. It is not impervious to suffering, but it is unsinkable.  What a gift!

As Christ followers we can have gratitude.
Even now, we have been shown so much grace, the gift of underserved favor.  That grace causes us to be grateful for what has been freely given to us.  Gratitude in turn pushes us out of our comfort zones to serve our neighbors and our city and to stretch and grow!  This in turn brings about even more grace in our lives - grace upon grace!  And the cycle continues.

The beautiful thing about each of these statements is that if you have been at Trailhead Church for very long YOU ALREADY KNOW THEM!  They are not new.  In Lamentations the phrase is "And this I call to mind".  We are calling these things to mind in the days and weeks ahead.  You are prepared for whatever this crazy time brings.  Will it be difficult?  Probably.  But we can Walk In Christ As Community On Mission and rest in these truths.  Together.

Trailhead Church - we love you.  And if you need someone to help you call these things to mind just let us know!