MADNESS OR MIRACLE? Viewing the National Crisis through a Spiritual Lens Presented by Suzette-The Marriage Warrior “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Ps.42:11) As Christians comply with Covid-19 health and safety guidelines, we watch businesses suffer, education programs compromised, the economy struggle, churches close, constitutional rights questioned, and the family going stir-crazy. Many leaders are urging people to pray, pray, pray! However, with all the moving parts, it can be difficult to find specific prayer targets. Generally, people tend to pray during times of crisis more than times of peace. When people can’t find answers in the natural realm, they spontaneously begin to press into the supernatural realm to ease uncertainty. The scripture teaches that “my people parish for a lack of knowledge” which relates a lack of knowledge with death, or at least the feeling of death. As a result, when humans face unknowns, the innate response is to explore. However, in the current national state of emergency, when we talk to friends…we find no real answers. We search the internet, only to find confusion within polar opposite viewpoints. Leaning on leaders seems to be fruitless as well, as we see the disunity emerging through “brother going against brother” (Matt. 10:12). As we observe important things unraveling around us, we feel powerless. The state of powerlessness is one of the most damaging emotions that people experience. Powerlessness is not a God created condition for mankind. This is why God provided scripture with messages to fill us with power. Colossians 1:11 says “being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience”. Ephesians 1:19 says “His incomparably great power for us who believe”. 1 Corinthians 2:5 says “so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. Ephesians 3:16 says “He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being”…and on and on it goes.
“For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Ps. 139:13-14)
18 | ON M AG AEVERY Z I N E N ACORNER ME FAITH
Christians are in the army of God! Armies, by their very nature, are active! God never expected us to be inactive, even when we are governed to stay quarantined. He consistently encrypted scripture to demonstrate how we are to overcome powerlessness. God is the Most High, the supreme power above all other powers. In order for an individual to be powerful over a situation, he must be backed by a higher power than that of his opponent. God is our heavenly father. Because He is pure in love and long-suffering and doesn’t have evil within Him, He does NOT cause pain. However, He never wastes pain, either! During times of uncertainty, God will strategically utilize maddening events to shift paradigms and reconstruct environments for a miracle to take place. As humans, we like our “norms”. Typically, people move through rapid daily routines and neglect practicing spiritual reflection. However, when things are moving too fast, or moving in the wrong direction, a natural implosion will occur. What causes individuals to get uncomfortable is a crisis. This disruption to norms creates uncertainty and the very nature of uncertainty creates environments for deep reflection. God did not desire for mankind to suffer, which is why He did not wire human capacity to endure much pain. Pain, however, is the conduit for real change to occur. Therefore, we don’t tend to change unless we become uncomfortable. When pain occurs in God’s children, He knows that by design, humans will quickly make whatever changes required to get out of that pain. This was God’s design! During this time of national crisis, we need to reach deep within ourselves to search what the spirit of God is wanting to change “for our good”! Those who are able to seize this opportunity for change, must not fear, but rather fight through the shifting of the norm, in order to make the changes required for a new norm. This takes inviting a spiritual view that is higher than the natural plane we are used to operating in. The first order of business must take place in changing our perspectives to things that are “above” rather than things that are “below.”
