In today’s society, it is nearly impossible to not know someone in Crisis on any given day. The reasons or subjects of the crisis can be many things. Most folks today equate all suffering as a moment of crisis or calamity. Yet nowhere does the Bible promise an easy-peasy life for true Christians. In fact, the opposite is true, the Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:14-16 states:
The Armor of God
Berean Standard Bible
…14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.…
His warning is clear, true believers must be ready daily to handle any and all crises thrown at them. We must remember we are in a Constant Struggle with the flesh.
CONTEXT/STUDY
CRISIS (Gr. krisis) A point of significance that anticipates future actions. In theology, a decision in relation to Jesus Christ and the Christian gospel is seen to be a point of crisis that provides a direction for one’s future life and thus is of utmost importance.
Donald K. McKim, The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014), 75.
CALAMITY, ka-lamʹi-ti (אֵיד, ’ēdh, “a load” or “burden” under which one is crushed, hence “misfortune”; הַיָּה, hayyāh, הַוָּה, hawwāh “fall,” “ruin,” the latter word used only in pl.; רַע, raʽ, “evil in essence,” hence “adversity,” once only, Ps 141:5, RV “wickedness”): Purely an OT term, signifying adversities—natural, but more often those that result from wickedness or moral evil. Various kinds: (1) folly, “a foolish son” (Prov 19:13); (2) disease, poverty, bereavement, as in Job’s experience (Job 6:2; 30:13); (3) persecution (2 S 22:19; Ps 18:18); (4) Divine retribution and judgment (Dt 32:35); cf ruin of the wicked (Prov 1:26, also 27 RV for “destruction” AV); (5) the devastation of war (Jer 46:21); (6) adversities of any kind (Prov 27:10).
Dwight M. Pratt, “Calamity,” ed. James Orr et al., The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), 540.
DEVOTIONAL
When people face crises, it’s natural to want to offer some words of comfort. After all, the right word, spoken at the right time, can be just what someone needs to hear to relieve their soul. While that may be the goal, that is not always the reality. Unfortunately, even though we say them with good intentions, sometimes the things we say have the opposite effect. They bring little comfort at all, and instead of healing, the words may hurt more than they help. There are some knee-jerk things Christians say in these situations that we probably need to stop saying. Even though you mean well, chances are they are not making anything better.
CONTINUED @ 7 Things Christians Should Stop Saying in Times of Crisis
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