“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. … Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:7-8, 11
Brothers and sisters,
The other day I was walking around with a family in our launch team as their kids were looking for signs of spring. With the winter darkness slowly starting to lift minute by minute each day, we are hungry for signs of hope that the season is turning and that the flowers will bloom again and the hills will turn from brown to purple and green.
As I walk the streets of our community and pray for opportunities to share the welcome, love, and truth of Christ, I am often reminded of the similarities of ministry to our wait for spring.
Especially in light of Covid and this week’s news of an extended lockdown, it’s easy to look at ministry here in Merkinch and think that it has not only paused but is actually going backwards. We don’t have many leaves or fruits on our ministry “tree” as we have had to stop our gatherings and much of our outreach.
Yet all the while the life of Christ is still pumping through this little church like the sap still pulses through the trees in winter. I truly believe that this time is a time of strengthening as we grow our roots deeper into the Word of God, into learning what it means to be transparent and vulnerable in our launch team, and as we wait on the Lord in prayer. We pray that lockdown will lift, spring will come, and the ministry growth will continue; but not first without the hard frosts of winter and the strengthening of our roots in Jesus. As a gardener I have learned that there are many plants that cannot thrive or flower without the pain of an extended period of cold and darkness, and the same is true of the growth and flowers of the church. After all, as the great Samuel Rutherford beautifully said, “Grace grows best in winter.”
So please pray for the our team as we endure this dark, cold winter both of season and of ministry. Pray that our hope in the loving providence of God will be strengthened as we wait with much longing. Pray that we may remain steadfast and that we may endure with much joy…because our dear Lord is at hand.
PRAYER ZOOM:
Our partner prayer meeting is in two days, folks! This Friday from 5:30-6:30 GMT. I know that we are all feeling pretty Zoomed-out these days, but it would be such an encouragement if you would want to join us for an hour of updates and prayer. I hope that this can be a time of encouragement for you all as well and a chance for you to see how your prayerful support has been a grace to us this year.
If you’re interested, you can click here to sign up for the Zoom link.
Grace & Peace,
Claire
Claire in Scotland 