When an assembly of Christians can't assemble (Part II)

(By MIchael Larsen)

Source of Hope

The Bible tells us that God is the only true source hope in Romans 15:13:“May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him.” In other words as you put your faith in God, He gives you peace, joy and hope because we know three things: 1) God watches over us and cares for us, 2) that his purpose is working in us if we respond with faith and trust, and 3) no matter what the outcome, we have a heavenly home awaiting us.

Even when we can’t assemble for worship, we are still a church because it’s the people who are the church, not the church building, and so, like a building we must find ways to continue to “build up” yourself at home and one another in whatever way we can. But it’s hard when we can’t meet and aren’t even supposed to go out unless it’s essential. The first week of quarantine might seem like a nice rest, but it quickly gets tiresome and boring and stressful.

One giant key to accomplishing great things as a group, even when we can’t physically meet together, is simply refusing to give up and quit. James 1:3-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, and complete, not lacking anything.” James says that perseverance and greatness go hand in hand. If you want to be great, hang in there. 

But how? I recently completed a series on seeing things through God’s eyes. When we do that, we gain a new perspective on things. We put a new frame on the picture. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Paul suggests three strategies for helping us to hang in there by hanging a new frame on our picture of things. 

A. First, reframe problems as small. Verse 17 says, “For our present troubles are quite small.” The NIV calls our problems “light and momentary” Often, it’s not so much the size of the problem that’s important; it’s our perception of the size of the problem. When we think we’ve got humongous issues to deal with, we just want to give up and quit. But with God on our side, there’s no such thing as a really big problem. He parted the Red Sea, protected Daniel in the Lion’s den, as well as the three in the furnace. He turned the water into wine, healed the sick, cured the lame and the blind, and even handled that death thing. He can handle our problems. 

B. Second, reframe problems as temporary. “For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. For the troubles we see will soon be over.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Look at your problem as an opportunity to learn patience and grow in your faith and trust in God. Take a long-term or even eternal view of things. Sometimes things feel like they are taking a long time even though they are happening at a good pace for us.

C. Third, reframe problems as NOT the end of our world. Earlier in 2 Corinthians 4, in v.8-9, it says,“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

We all have problems now with our jobs, families, income, etc. But God is bigger and stronger than those things, and we know God can bring good out of them. We just need to hang a new frame on our problems and keep reminding ourselves and our church family to “Hang in there.”