Crisis

Introduction

You can not possibly lead the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ without first realizing that you can not survive this world and its persecution, turmoil, and adversity without full dependence on the Holy Spirit. Crises become your friend because Crises are the school where you learn obedience, love, and the power of God. Survival of the fittest is not the answer to the world’s turmoil. Survival by obedience to God is the only answer. And that only comes through individual crises of the saint and collective crises of the Church as we learn the nature of our Redeemer. But be of good cheer. We will survive. We have been told. “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), and we have been promised “The gates of hell will not prevail…” (Matthew 16:18) by our Church founder, Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we want to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We want to be delivered from sins, but to give up the right to ourselves is another matter. These are words we do not want to hear. We want peace, rest from turmoil, and we would rather never face adversity again. “Feel good” preachers understand this very well, and their congregations thrive on their “grace only” sermons. Rip out the book of 1^st Peter and every word in the Bible that deals with suffering and adversity, and what do you have left? A front and a back cover with no content between.

Where are the wise teachers of Scripture, preachers of the whole Word of God, Evangelists without fear of mankind, Prophets who only hear and speak from the mouth of God and not for God, and where are the Apostles who are true to the definition of the Word?

Where there is no crisis, there is no growth. Where there is no crisis, there is no man or woman of God. Where there is no crisis, there is no need for a Gospel. Where there is no crisis, there is no Church. In crises after crisis after crisis lies the power to overcome. Death is not an ending; it is a beginning. We must lay down our lives to death to gain glory. Then we say, “Oh death, where is thy sting?” And we hear the final words, “Welcome, faithful servant”. You have laid down your life for your fellow man; you have laid down your life for Me. Enter into my Kingdom.”

Everyone will come to a crisis in their life. Some will encounter many. I have neither seen nor read of any who has not. It appears that the more adversity one encounters, the stronger one becomes, and that is not only spiritually but physically as well. All great leaders, inventors, and seekers of truth, whether Born Again or not must overcome and resolve crises of one form or another. Crises are body builders, mental builders, and spiritual builders. It is an unwritten law of the universe.

Meet the World

“Occupy” is a word many of us would prefer to avoid. Countless people living without Christ feel exhausted by this world and long to escape it. Tragically, some even choose to end their own lives. Yet for others, Christ becomes the irresistible attraction—the source of hope that enables us to endure life in this world and anticipate the world to come.

But here we encounter another crisis. The command, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13, KJV), often makes us grit our teeth. Peter understood this tension well, and Jesus addressed him directly:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18, ESV)

In other words, when we are young—whether in Christ or not—we imagine we can choose our own path. We feel invincible. But as we grow older, we discover that we are not as free as we once believed. We become subject to others: employers, governments, rules, regulations, and laws. In many ways, the world seems to own us.

Yet if our eyes and ears are open, we begin to see the way out—the hope that lies in Christ alone. And as we mature in Him, another crisis confronts us: we must surrender ourselves completely. Our lives can no longer belong to us but to Him. Even our very breath is not our own to take. The life we live is His gift and His possession.

These crises come one after another, day after day. Yet by the strength given through the Holy Spirit, we find that we can endure them. More than that—we discover, often to our amazement, that each crisis strengthens us. Though we may grind our teeth at times, Scripture calls this “fighting the good fight of faith.” In these battles, we draw closer to our Creator. We find rest in Him through prayer and quiet communion. This nearness brings comfort and renews our resolve to live another day, to continue running the race, and to press toward the finish line for the prize set before us.

The world is not overcome by our love or by our Christianity but by the Cross—and the Cross is our crisis.

Differences

This life in Christ causes our minds to see the world differently. So differently, in fact, that it seems everything said by the world is the exact opposite of what is said by the Word of God. I have written about this before, but for a refresher, look at the chart below and see if this is not true.

Perception

I have written about perception before, yet it bears repeating. We must return to this theme as a necessary reminder.

What we see, what we think, what we feel, and even what we desire is never the ultimate issue. The real issue is what God sees, what God thinks, and what God desires. Our minds are so conditioned by worldly assumptions and cultural narratives that we must continually remind ourselves: it is not about me, it is not about what the world believes, but about what God requires.

As noted above, our natural perceptions often run contrary to the way of the Kingdom. Familiar cliches, misapplied Scripture, and even well-intended preaching can become distorted when filtered through a worldly lens rather than a Kingdom one. Everything we say and believe must reflect the character of Christ—never the impulses of the world.

We often tell ourselves, “I do not have enough money, time, education, opportunity, or resources.” Yet God declares, “You have all you need; simply obey Me and faithfully occupy the place where I have set you.” Our eyes drift toward others, wishing we could think, live, succeed, or look as they do. We imagine that if only we possessed what they have, life would be better. The words “if only…” become a broken crutch that keeps us spiritually lame.

Even Jesus faced profound testing—on the Mount of Temptation and in the Garden of Gethsemane—as revealed in His own words, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” Do we truly believe we will escape hardship simply because we bear the name Christian? Christ willingly emptied Himself of divine privilege to stand where we stand and to endure what we endure. If He walked the road of temptation, suffering, and surrender, how could we ever suppose we will avoid the same path?

Crisis Management

Managing our crises through the power of the Holy Spirit is not optional; it is part of our calling as believers, and it is directly connected to the reward that awaits us. If we refuse to engage our crises—or if we imagine that a life without trials would somehow be better—we must ask ourselves: what kind of reward would such a life produce? I am convinced that the more faithfully we endure our crises and the more wisely we navigate them, the greater our eternal reward will be.

You want Scriptural support for that? Good. You should never accept the words of any teacher without confirming them in the Word of God. Consider the following:

“…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21 ESV

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 ESV

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;” Romans 2: 6,7

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” Revelation 22:12-13 ESV

Conclusion

I am clearly not alone in recognizing the value that crises bring to the human soul. History and worldly philosophy are filled with voices that affirm that same truth:

“There is no education like adversity.” – Benjamin Disraeli
“Difficulty strengthens the mind as labor does the body.” – Seneca
“Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.” – Victor Hugo

It has often been said, “If you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Life is never easy—not even for those who appear privileged or favored. Do not desire another person’s life or circumstances. You see only the surface of another’s story; it is what you do not see that often becomes their heaviest burden. The same is true for us. What others cannot see within us is precisely what God uses to shape our character.

What we do in secret is fully seen by the Lord, and those hidden choices either draw us nearer to Him or lead us further away. Crises may press upon us and seek to rule over us, but Christ within us gives the power to endure and to overcome.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4: 12-13

“And I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” Revelation 2: 23

Enough Said

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV