Certainties We Can Focus On
Dear WINOntario,
I pray that you are all doing well and in good health.
This unprecedented, rapidly evolving crisis has brought us to where we never would have imagined ourselves during the start of the year. I find myself having a brand-new appreciation for the term “uncertain future.” From here on in, all our routines, schedules and plans have been put aside as we await where this pandemic would lead us and when would it be finally brought under control
Our leaders, guided by our best scientists and experts, from various levels of government have been doing their best to lead us as we navigate our way out of this through social distancing, isolating, even instituting huge financial measures in the billions of dollars. But it is also clear that they themselves are unsure of what the next steps should be.
In the midst of this uncertainty, I believe that the best thing for us to do as believers is to go back to what we know is certain and true.
- It is true that God is still in control, underlying the seeming chaos is God’s perfect plan and purpose. Psalm 46:1 says that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
- It is true that God promised that, as His Word says in Hebrews 13:5, “He will never leave us nor forsake us”. (It is, by the way the most repeated promise in the Bible).
- It is true that He is faithful, that no matter when and how this ends, we make it through because we have God on our side. Deuteronomy 7:9 says this: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
There is also another truth that I am counting on, that the darkest moments provide the greatest opportunities for the light to shine. That’s us! We have been called by Jesus to let our light shine. This is an opportunity for us to come together and be the church that God has called us to be.
There are many practical ways we can be a blessing to one another and to our larger community:
- We can pray for one another. Let us pray for each other’s safety and health. We have brethren who continue to go about their work so that essential services continue to be delivered. They are in the medical, retail, financial, utility and various fields that bring them at greater risk to contract this virus. We have a Facebook prayer group where you can bring your prayer items so that we can pray together. Also, gather your family together for a moment of devotion and prayer daily. If you are allowed to work from home, take some more time to pray as a family.
- We can look after each other. Won’t you take a moment to see how our fellow brothers and sisters are doing? There might be among us in need of help with grocery shopping because they’re taking care of their young kids at home. Or there might be those who need childcare support because they have to work, and their kids don’t have school. If you know of a need and its beyond your capacity to help, message your respective Messenger chat group: we have a chat group in Messenger for WIMO West Congregation while a chat group for the East Congregation, WIMO Ottawa and WIMO Niagara will be set up shortly. Or maybe you can contact your LifeGroup or the nearest one so they can come together and we can all pitch in to meet this need.
- We can help our community. Some people in our communities (GTA, Niagara and Ottawa) don’t have the luxury of lining up at grocery stores to buy the necessities because they don’t have the money to do so. It’s in the news that many food banks are also low on supplies. We are therefore launching a Food Bank Drive to help the most economically vulnerable in our communities. We will send you the details about this on a separate announcement shortly.
The church is often likened to a lighthouse, we do our best work during a storm, when the nights are darkest and when the seas are most dangerous. In times of uncertainty we can still be certain of God’s faithfulness and certain of our calling to be a lighthouse in times such as this.
Prayer: Lord, may You use us to reflect Your love and Your light to pierce the darkness of the world around us as we stand strong and faithful unto You.
May God bless us all.
– Pastor Jong Duterte
