The world today is throwing all the challenges and uncertainties into our pathway, from what is happening locally in our neighbourhood to global events could be very disheartening. Ranging from health challenges, battling depressions, crisis, fear, and the list goes on.
It beckons the question, what can we do as a response to the call of God to be the light?
Not knowing what to do is not new, and we should not be surprised. Paul wrote in Romans 8:26 about not knowing how to pray. We can always turn to the Bible for guidance when we don’t know what to do. My suggestion is to learn from Jonathan in this passage:
And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 1 Samuel 23:16-17.
Jonathan did not try to proffer solutions and strategies beyond his control. He did the best thing in such a situation, and we should learn from them:
- Evaluate the situations or challenges and not embark on fruitless actions that will not help. Jonathan didn’t even try to leak security information about the father’s plans to David. Jonathan understood the helplessness of the situation as his father mustered the kingdom military might to hunt and kill David.
- He relied on the most trusted and effective solution of helping David find strength in God. In many situations, all that is required from us is to help them find strength in God. God knows, sees and have the solution, and we can partner with him by helping each other find strength in God.
- Help them address the fear associated with the situation. Every challenge in life is embodied with fear. Like Jonathan, let us tell our friends, families, colleagues the words - “Don’t be afraid”.
Let us practice this approach, understand the situation, help them find strength in God and encourage them not to be afraid.