SOARING ABOVE UNCERTAINTY

The verses from the old hymn, “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” come to mind when reflecting on events of this year and praying about what is yet to come. The uncertainty of these times can be utterly overwhelming—but when we feel overwhelmed we must keep in mind the truth of the next verse: “All other ground is shifting sand.”

There is nothing on this earth we can trust more than God. No person, no job, no economy, no government. In the midst of such uncertainty, we must keep our eyes on Him, and continually renew our faith in His promises . . .

But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Scripture calls us to live completely reliant on our Lord. That’s not a Sunday-only lifestyle, but rather, an every hour of every day lifestyle that looks entirely different from the ways of this world.

I remember my father and mother modeling this lifestyle my entire life when other ways would have been much easier. Things like hardships, hunger, and beatings do not sound like a plan for success but rather for failure. Remember that there is nothing we can go through that Jesus is not familiar. We are told He was, “acquainted with grief” (Is 53:3). As an adult, Jesus knew hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. He was homeless and a man of sorrows yet always rejoicing. He was poor yet made many rich. As Jesus told the young man on the road to Jerusalem, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).

Let us keep things in perspective:

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10

So I encourage you to press in and seek our King! He will give you what you need to stand strong, to rise above the mayhem, to soar above the uncertainty. Continually meditate on the promises of God rather than on the headlines and social media wars. I have included some scripture verses below to help you keep your focus on the only thing that truly matters. Keep soaring!

1. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. Psalm 46:1-2

2. But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

3. So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

4. The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7

5. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

6. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

7. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’ Psalm 91:1-2

8. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

9. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

10. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Poor Foreigners?

“When you reap the harvest of your land,
do not reap to the very edges of your field
or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Do not go over your vineyard a second time
or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave
them for the poor and the foreigner. I am
the Lord your God.”
(Leviticus 19:9-10 NIV)

As Christians, we can sometimes become detached from the suffering and struggles around us. Going through our daily routines, we don’t always see and hear about the difficulty others may be going through. This is especially true in times like these when each day seems to bring a new challenge.

I am so thankful for our dedicated frontline messengers who serve throughout South Asia. They keep us updated on the needs and struggles they encounter so that we can pray and respond. In all of the regions we serve, thousands have lost what meager livelihood they could earn because of nationwide shutdowns. Street vendors and day laborers are some of the hardest hit. These are men and women with families who rely on that income to survive.

In one region, our team was made aware of a slum where the conditions were particularly desperate. It is inhabited by a group of stranded street vendors who have no work, no way to get back to their families and no food. That same slum had also become home to a large group of transgenders. Being outcast by society and without income due to the travel restrictions that have all but ended tourism in the area, they are lost and barely surviving. They need more than food. They need the Light of God’s Love to set them free. The Psalmist tells us to, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked,” (Psalm 82:3-4NIV). Our team has begun to provide food and other staples to those living in this slum and they are ministering to them as well. Please pray for breakthrough!

My friend, revival is breaking out in the most unusual places. We are hearing reports from all over the world that God showing up in the midst of all this chaos – breaking chains and setting the captives free.

We must not rest in days like this, but rather, continue to pray…to be light in the darkness…and to speak life where there is death.

By remembering the poor in our giving, we also open doors that may otherwise never have opened to share the love of God with them. Thank you for standing with Alpha Ministries in this great work! God bless you!



“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
(Isaiah 61:1)