There is hope in the hardship.
The Apostle Paul is writes 2 Timothy 2:1-13 in prison at the end of his life.
It’s hard. He is suffering. He is chained like a criminal. He invites Timothy to join him in suffering; to suffer like a good solider, an athlete, and a hardworking farmer. But hardship is not the end of the story.
In the exhaustion, complexity, and challenges of Ephesus, Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful, and to keep going. There is hope in the hardship. After the government's announcement today you may be feeling the exhaustion, complexity, and challenges of leading in this pandemic.
We encourage you to be faithful and keep going. You are the right person, at the right time for your church family. In the weariness, as you discern the way forward, you are not alone.
Paul writes, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus". We are not left alone. We can be strong in our weakness, we can be faithful in our fatigue, we can be hopeful in the hardship because of the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
In this increasingly complex and challenging season we are not left alone, the grace of God in Christ is with us, in us, and amongst us.
There is hope in the hardship.
We don’t work alone. “Remember Jesus, raised from the dead” Paul tells Timothy (verse 8). Remember the gospel, God’s saving word, it’s not chained, it’s not on a leash, and it can’t be put down.
God’s unchained word is at work in the world. He hasn’t left us alone, and we don’t do his work alone. His grace is working in us and his word works through us.
Many of us are tired and weary, we are feeling the stresses and strains of the ministering in this moment. Perhaps the announcement today came as a reminder that this season continues a little while longer.
Can I say to you, you are not alone, you’ve not been left alone, you are not working on your own.
Christ's people from around the movement stand with you, Christ's grace is in you, and Christ’s word is at work around you.
