What Do You Say in Times Like These?
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary...
Isaiah 50:4, KJV
“Lord, please give us wisdom so that we may speak a word in season to those who are weary and struggling!”
I prayed those words for the therapists in my practice this morning as we discussed the angst people are experiencing over the murder of George Floyd, the protests, the ever-widening divisions in our country, and the ongoing stress of this pandemic.
And it is my prayer for you. I pray that God will give you the words to speak to your circle, your congregation, and your community.
I think of people who have been a healing voice in the midst of chaos. People like Desmond Tutu, a major voice in ending the apartheid in South Africa; Abraham Lincoln who had the courage to take an unpopular stand as he refused to allow the United States to be divided or slavery to stand.
I think of Mr. Rogers at a time of deep racial tension inviting a Black mailman to wade with him in his pool on TV, then drying his friend’s feet.
I admire a small but growing movement of churches across the country who are meeting, white congregations with black congregations, for foot washing services reminiscent of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet.[i] I admire their courage, humility, and the statement they are making.
And I appreciate you. Your day in, day out ministry to your congregation during this time fraught with the complexities of digital platforms, grieving members, and continual stress.
My blogs center on emotional Intelligence, of course. Those kinds of relational skills include listening deeply to others, assessing their needs, taking the pulse of the emotional climate, managing ourselves well and then speaking into situations what is necessary for the desired outcome. May God grant you the grace to do just that in these coming weeks.
Let’s pray for each other that God will give us ears to hear what the Spirit says, what He wants to speak to the church, and how we can speak or minister Christ’s love to our communities.
God Bless.
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[i] https://churchleaders.com/news/376962-foot-washing-ceremonies.html?utm_source=cl-sundaysend-nl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text-link&utm_campaign=cl-sundaysend-nl20200614&maropost_id=742757043&mpweb=256-8941212-742757043
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