Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He proves to be the One who rewards those who seek Him.”

I was looking through my newsfeed on Facebook and came across a post from a Christian friend which read:

What if? (which feeds fear)

Even if  (which feeds faith)

It hit me like a thunderbolt! Such a stark difference!

As I was running life scenarios through my mind, a current concern brought these opposing outlooks into focus. A bit of background here…

For about 8 years now, I have been majorly involved in the KAIROS prison ministry. A team of women (25-30) whose lives are grounded in a relationship with Jesus Christ, go into a medium/maximum security prison for a 4-day retreat, in order to present the Gospel to inmates who have been selected to attend the Weekend. The Weekend consists of a worship/praise team, talks related to living out the Christian faith given by team members, chapel visits, conversations with women about their lives, their hopes and dreams, and their struggles, which are many. It is an incredibly moving and powerful weekend – ALL of which is held in a concrete prison gymnasium. But during these 4 days, this place becomes hallowed, we come together to grapple with the challenges of being a disciple of Christ, whether in prison, or out in the “free world.”

Here’s the thing. I am not a kid anymore, far from it. I will turn 80 years old next year. Although this is a fabulous and life-changing weekend, for inmates and team members alike, it is physically and emotionally draining. The hours are long, and the sleep is, well, not much! But it is ALL so worth it.

So…WHAT IF I am no longer able to sever on a KAIROS weekend team? I love this ministry! It has totally transformed my life. I can hardly bear to think of never going back to be a part of a KAIROS weekend team. Well, here is what God had to say to me as I floundered and forecasted this picture of doom and disappointment: Isaiah 40:10 – “Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” And as we read in Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”

There is my answer. EVEN IF this should be the way things play out, God will see me through it. I need also to recall and turn to one of my very favorite scriptures: Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.” The KEY word in this verse is the word TOGETHER. Of course, disappointments and heartaches in life will get us down – but when we look at the SUM TOTAL of God’s care and provision for us, we can clearly see that ALL of the events viewed TOGETHER that comprise our life, create a perfect and complete mosaic of His pre-ordained plan and purpose for us.

So although I do not know what my future relative to serving on a 4-day weekend looks like for sure, I can be grateful for the wonderful opportunities He has given me to participate in this amazing ministry. And I can also take comfort in the fact that there are other ways to continue to be involved in this fantastic program. And most importantly, I can know and believe that God’s Word can be trusted and can be applied to any life situation.

Isaiah 26:3-4 – “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever; for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”

EVEN IF

-Christine