Greetings in the name of Jesus. Assuming that your last few months have been anything like ours, you aren’t seeking news anymore—you’re seeking encouragement.
This has been an incredible twelve months in history. Your partnership has encouraged me, our team, our board, and the children worldwide who receive help from our work. So, thanks again for faithfully praying and giving. We don’t take any of it for granted.
Today, there are two things on my heart to share with you. First, if you signed up for the prayer team, we’ll be contacting you this summer about our virtual prayer walk through India. This virtual prayer walk is conveniently posted on our website:
www.missiontochildren.org/pray2020
If you don’t have internet access, please let us know and we’ll mail you a prayer guide so you can still participate. During 2020, we want as many people as possible to build up their heavenly accounts by praying for the advancement of the gospel in India. India is less than 2.1% Christian and has more human need than any other nation. Today is as good a time as any in history to ask our Father to send workers into His harvest.
Personally, I find incredible hope praying to make Christ known among the nations. Because in prayer, we share in Christ’s victory. Jesus declared, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14, NASB) As His followers, we are part of His work by design.
Secondly, for your encouragement right now: Do you realize that in Christ, you were made for such a time as this? Your time in history is not dictated by a virus.
Certainly, COVID-19 is becoming part of our history. We don’t need to pretend it hasn’t changed how we function day to day. Yet we can still flourish in this season by reading God’s word as family, by praying, by resting in God’s sovereignty together, and by giving thanks—even for a cup of coffee.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, NASB)
This verse is not a question, or a conditional sentence (if, then). It is a declaration about the ultimate reality defined by God’s word: We are in Christ by grace, through faith. We are His handiwork with a gospel-centered purpose that He spoke before the foundation of the world.
God’s word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). This is not a wasted season. However weak or perplexed we may feel, we can rest in knowing that God is shaping who we are becoming. God isn’t using this season of isolation to quench us as believers … but to strengthen us!
There is so much joy available to us in Christ. Remind yourself every morning, afternoon, and evening: “God has a purpose in this season. He has a purpose rooted in the gospel for me and for my neighbors. They need to hear the truth of the gospel: That Christ died in our place on the cross. He died for sins we committed—not Him!
Remember, COVID-19 doesn’t control God. God’s ability to run the universe, love you, and strengthen you is unhindered. He is holy and sovereign. Let’s not be dismayed; throughout Scripture there are abundant promises for us who believe.
“… in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39, NASB)
Let God’s word calm and marinate your soul so that when you look back on this season, the words of Psalm 28:6-7 will awaken your joy.
“Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” Psalm 28:6-7 (NASB)
For God’s glory,
Byron Garmo, President
