It is easy to feel helpless and powerless in this age of instability-- pandemic, monkeypox, Ukraine-Russian war, China-US tension, China-Taiwan tension and our local problems- housing affordability, inflation, quarantine as well as scams. Likewise, Christians are susceptible to feeling helpless and powerless. Helplessness is the sense that there is nothing we can do but accept fate. Powerlessness is when you feel tired of life, lacking zeal and energy for your job and even everyday tasks. Even worse, some might be too jaded to go to church, pray and read the bible. They think that this is what the end times is supposed to be like and we cannot change God’s will and destiny for humanity.
There is so much we can learn from the words of Paul: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
Although Paul experienced a myriad of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, danger and swords (Romans 8:35), he proclaimed that he had triumphed over it all. Nothing or no one can separate us from the love of
God. He continued to look to God and do His work till completion.
Therefore, we should work to transform our lives. Strive to grow and equip ourselves in church and imitate Paul’s love of the Lord whatever it costs; displaying the ways of a mature Christian as a result.
Growth is not simply head knowledge. For us believers living in the end times, growth is dealing with difficulties head-on; guarding our closeness to God and never separating from him.