What is a crisis to you? How do you cope with one?
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has turned out to one of the biggest crisis faced in the history of humankind.
The last time the earth was so impacted globally was when God sent the great flood and allowed Noah and his family to survive.
“Wēi Jī” (危机) is the Chinese word for crisis.
As seen below, it is made up of two characters.
The individual characters, “wēi” and “jī”, stand for danger and incipient change respectively.
危 机
Wéi Jī
In the midst of this pandemic, there are a lot of “wēi”.
It speaks of risks, dangers, challenges and the many deaths as a result of, just like in the great flood.
That, however, is only half the story and half the word.
It should not determine the type of response that we should approach the situation with as a believer of a living and sovereign God, one of hope and promises.
This is the beauty of Chinese characters.
“Jī” suggests of an emerging change, and thus, an opportunity to look up and fix our eyes on the Lord to see His plans and purposes.
In fact, another perspective of the word “Jī” literally refers to opportunities!
In every season, not just crisis times, you can either see a situation as hopeless or you can see it as an opportunity to hope in the Lord and obey Him.
In the case of the Great flood, Noah obeyed God and took the opportunity to build an ark which saved his whole family from the global crisis.
What is God saying to you today?
Whenever there is danger, do not fear because it is an opportunity to call upon the name of God and profess that God is the great ‘I AM’.
Let it be clear that a crisis is just the right time to declare that ‘Christ is’!
In John 14:9 (NIV), Jesus said that “if you see me, you have seen the Father”.
Who then is Christ to you?
Christ is sufficient (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Christ is good (John 10:11).
Christ is my provider (Philippians 4:19).
Christ is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Christ is my help (Psalms 46:1).
Christ is sovereign (Romans 8:28).
Christ is my anchor (Hebrews 6:19).
Christ is my vindicator (Psalms 135:14).
Christ is my all (Psalms 16:5).
Learn to declare the above and that in our crisis, Christ is! Allow God to bring heart and character transformation to us so that through every crisis, we become more and more like Christ.
May we look at crisis through the lens of Jesus and know that God can make a way, where there seems to be no way.
This is why in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV), Apostle Paul confidently urges us to ‘give thanks in all circumstances’.
Even in a crisis, there will always be a God given opportunity for us to overcome, grow, get to know God, and build His kingdom.
Life may throw us troubles and uncertainties, but our response to it is a choice.
Choose to be positive, resilient, hopeful and to go through it in the way that pleases God and demonstrates His presence in all areas of our lives.
Prayer and Reflection:
- How can you look at your crisis today in Christ’s perspectives?
- Are you facing a crisis today? Use the verses shared above that is relevant to your situation and declare that ‘Christ is ______’ in your prayers.
0 Comments