An Encouragement For Hard Seasons

We know that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33), but sometimes those hard times stick around longer than we had expected or hoped for. What at first seems like a short-term “blizzard” of disruption can turn into a long “winter” of trouble, or even an “ice age” new normal.

However, we should not lose hope (Romans 15:13). We know that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28), and we can be confident that God is always up to something. We have the ability (or the responsibility) to be thankful always, for everything (Ephesians 5:20), in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

With that mindset, here are some ways in which God can use difficult seasons to make your church stronger.

They Remove Idols

Hard times tend to prune away distractions. Many of the worldly things that people trust in—jobs, retirement accounts, a sense of certainty in what the future would hold—become exposed as the illusions that they are (James 4:13-16). People are reminded that they should not focus on worldly comforts, and that this world is not heaven.

When earthly treasures are taken away or diseases remind us that life is temporary, people become more open to conversations about eternal life. We must simply be faithful and not waste the opportunity that has been handed to us.

What is the biggest idol God has uncovered in your own life this season?

They Reveal Your Leaders

For church leaders, challenging times serve as our own personal “stress test.” We can see where there are cracks or gaps in our leadership, giving us clarity on what we need to work on.

Tough seasons can also give you clarity on who your leaders really are. You can see which of the leaders in your church are willing and able to change, to step up, and to help out wherever necessary. It shows you who is flexible, who is committed, and who the true leaders are.

Which fellow laborers in your church have stood out for their faithfulness and flexibility in this season?

They Force You to Reevaluate

When times are easy and everything is humming along, we tend to keep doing things the same way we’ve been doing them. After all, it’s working, right? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

But when things are broken, it forces you to change how you do things, at least for a season. That disruption gives church leaders the time and the motivation to reevaluate how things are done. Then, when things go back to “normal,” whatever the new normal may be, you can do a better job than before because you are not stuck in habits or ruts.

What things do you need to start doing, stop doing, or keep doing?

They Allow You to Try New Things

The late Bob Buford introduced the concept of “low-cost probes.” The idea is that, instead of spending a lot of time and resources to make a massive change that may or may not be successful, you can spend just a little bit to temporarily experiment with the idea first. If it works, you can expand on the idea and make the change permanent. If it fails, you’ve learned what doesn’t work, which is itself a valuable lesson and worth the small investment.

For example, during the COVID-19 shutdowns, “Watermark TV” was a thing here—for about a month. It was fun, and it was worth trying, but by trying it we were able to gather information showing that it ultimately wasn’t worth continuing. So, now we know. Our online equipping classes, on the other hand, exceeded expectations and have been well worthwhile.

What smart, small risks could you take?

They Prepare the Church for the Future

As Christians, we’ve read the book and have the benefit of knowing how it ends. Although ultimately assured of victory, we will first face persecution and trials from an increasingly hostile world. When restrictions are placed on church gatherings, society rebels against the truth, and our freedoms or resources are taken away, we should not be surprised—and, therefore, we should not be unprepared.

The current time, if not the end itself, is practice for how to handle such times. The things you do now to cope with a tough season might be the only way your church can function in the future. If pandemics, governments, or finances close down church buildings, remember that your church was never a building. The people are the church, and you can continue being the church for each other no matter what happens.

What should you be doing now to prepare your church for the future?

Hard Times Create Strong Churches

It’s been said that “hard times create strong men.” They also create strong churches. We can be thankful for trials, because we know the end results they produce in us (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3).

Regardless of the times or situations you find yourself in, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Pray and have peace (Philippians 4:6-7), knowing that God is still on His throne.