God’s truth provides answers that go beyond the surface, offering hope, purpose, and a life transformed.
-“Could I come to church with you?”
-“What do you write in your journal during church?”
-“What do you say when you pray?”
-“How do you read your Bible? We have to recite our holy book. Do you read the Bible like that too?”
“I don’t get it! your WHOLE life is spiritual. How?”
These are some of the questions that have come up during conversations with one of my students. The desire for truth is present, but so are the uncertainties, the uneasiness about stepping into the unknown, concerns about others' opinions, and the natural worry about how their family might respond.
“Have you changed anyone’s mind spiritually?”
- “I don’t have the power to change anyone, but I can show people what it looks and sounds like to be changed. I want to live and act and speak just like Jesus, because I believe He is the word of God that became a human and showed us the perfect example of how we were designed to live”, was my honest answer.
There is the craving to know the answers to all the “whys”. There is also the fear of asking, and not being willing to accept paradoxes like- How can God be born? How can God have a son? How can God be 3 gods but 1? How can God die?
It’s very difficult to measure the impact I have when there are many questions asked and answered yet no visible change in life seems to follow.. However, I am reminded that it’s not my job to change lives, but to represent Jesus, God in the flesh, to the world and to serve as a minister of reconciliation, inviting people into restored relationships with their Creator. God alone brings transformation.
I see a growing desperation for hope among people, while traditions are becoming oppressive. Religious practices often fail to meet the deeper needs of the heart. I see that the people are weary from life and long to know who they are and why they are. In these moments, we have the opportunity to speak of hope: one that reminds us God truly cares about us and is genuinely powerful. There is hope in knowing we can live in harmony with God and follow His ways, even when the world around us seems to walk a different path.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”