By Alison Langerman
After going on several trips with RtH in the
past, I was concerned about the way American Christians would react to
supporting the ministry further during COVID-19. This concern led me to really
begin thinking about my own privileged position and attitude living in a 1st world
nation. These thoughts, prayers, and reflections are just the beginning of my
own personal response to what God is doing in my small corner of the world.
Amidst all the chaos of quarantine and the fears of the spreading
virus, I read this quote from author Christine Caine, “Sometimes when you are
in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but actually you’ve been
planted.” What a different point of view. I don’t know how this global pandemic
has affected you, but it has certainly changed your life in some very
unexpected ways; how will you choose to view this trial? Don’t let yourself be
buried when God might be planning transformed life.
I have asked God repeatedly to stop this quickly and heal the
thousands who are suffering, but then the prompting of the Holy Spirit forced
me to change my prayer. I began to think, what if God is using this global
crisis to draw hundreds of thousands of hearts to him? There seems to be such a
lack of good news during this time. But I have heard so many encouraging
testimonies about college students attending virtual bible studies, about
fathers who work from home finally being able to read scripture to their kids,
and about floods of desperate seekers logging into virtual church services.
With tears of anxiety in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I decided to change
my prayer of “stop this quickly” into a prayer that I might have strength to
endure this for as long as it needs to last for lives to be saved. As much as
it terrifies me, I am choosing to be planted and not buried.
In his article, “First-Year Vineyard Care,” Wes Hagan explains
that after planting young vines the vintner will gradually decrease watering to
force the plant to grow deeper roots. Hagan encourages vintners to, “Allow the roots to dry
out between water applications. This will promote root growth as the vines sink
their root systems deeper into the soil layers in an attempt to find water.”
This strange season certainly feels like God has left us wandering without
water. However, I will choose to believe that our sovereign Lord actually has a
plan and that he will use these deeper roots that we are being forced to grow
now in order to bear beautiful, sweet fruit in the days to come.
John 5:15 “I am the vine; you are the
branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart
from me you can do nothing.”
