For Such A Time As This

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 This verse has been shared with our students since the very beginning of EA. Knowing that there is a God that loves them, that is in control, and has a good plan for their lives, gives them the courage to walk through their current realities and sufferings.

 The reality of the crisis in Perú began to sink in a couple of weeks ago. The length of the quarantine, along with the ever-growing mortality rate, bred a new level of anxiousness in our staff. I did not understand their level of fear, nor had I ever seen that in someone's eyes, especially someone so grounded in the Lord. As I tried to place myself there, I began to see some of what they were seeing. Our families are living in tiny homes with many people in mixed families with nothing to do; boredom settles in. Often creativity is born; however, boredom also leads to unspeakable things in tight quarters. The inability to go out, the scarcity of food, and the threat of market being a breeding ground for the virus is unnerving. If I were to get sick, the reality of receiving medical care is slim to none. The fear was real and profound.

The truth of Jeremiah 29:11 stands on the reality of verse 12 "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." 

Through all of this, the Lord has been good to lead us to a place of repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14), seeking Him individually and as a staff. He also reminded us that His plans for us sometimes include suffering for Christ's sake (Phil 1:29) and that we will not always understand His plans (Pr. 20:24).

He then asked us how we will respond to our current realities; would we look through "Natural" glasses or put on our "Supernatural" glasses? Were we going to look at our current natural circumstances or see His supernatural plan unfolding? As in the days of Esther, there came a critical time in history. Mordecai said to her, “Esther 4:14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Never before in all of history has the entire world experienced the same fear all at once, it does not matter your age, gender, race, social or economic status, we are all confronted with the reality of COVID.  Like Esther, chosen for her time, God has chosen you and me to be here now! Let that sink in! How will we respond?

We love verse 11, most of us see the word "plans" as our dreams for ourselves, but when we go back a few verses in Jeremiah, we learn that the Israelites were in captivity, exiles, sojourners, they were not safe and in their homes and yet, this is what the Lord tells them. 29:7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

It is no accident that each of us is living at this time. God placed us here and now. We are surrounded by the lost; souls are passing into eternity at an alarming rate; others are suffering. Do I have a burden for the lost? Is it equal to the heart of Moses who was willing for the Lord to blot his name out of the book of life (EX 32), or Paul’s, willingness to be cut off from Christ (RO 9:3)? O Lord, break my heart, do not let up, until I have your heart for the lost.

This is not our home, we are sojourners, yes, we have great future promises ahead, but for now, He has put us here for His plans (2 Cor 5:17-20), and HE is asking us to seek the welfare of the lost by praying, interceding on their behalf.

"FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS"

The Lord is challenging me to “BE” in prayer, every day to press into

2 Chronicles 7:14 REPENTANCE and Jeremiah 29:7 INTERCESSION before I "DO" anything.

We have laughed a little about putting on our supernatural glasses, but we have also settled into an incredible place of peace and purpose. 

GOD IS SO GOOD TO US!

Jim Schutz