So much is in the news about the economy these days. The daily roller-coaster ride that has characterized the stock market. We're wearied day by day with talking heads debating whether the measures of our economic well-being shows we are in recession, coming out of it, headed back in…are you dizzy yet? The media argues about how the government should handle the crisis, and more. And more.
Many people are discouraged, even if they haven't taken a hit personally or lost their jobs outright. And it is impacting us: the Network sent out a plea before Thanksgiving for our members to pray about helping. We've felt the pinch, just like many of you.
No doubt we are in some lean times, and it does not appear to be going away any time soon. Another point of debate in the "drive-by media."
But in the midst of the doom and gloom, what are the signs of hope? What would God have us to think and do in times like these? Many have commented, including John Piper, who blogged a while back about the value of an economic downturn on global missions. He reminds us that there is a clear "upside" to a downturn.
- During an economic downturn we are more dependent on God. That is the most fertile soil for creating missionaries.
- During an economic downturn unreached people around the world do not expect you to come, but to look out for yourself. So they may more likely see your risk as love rather than exploitation.
- During an economic downturn those who need Christ around the world may be less secure in earthly things and more ready to hear about eternal life.
- During an economic downturn people at home may be wakened to the brevity of life and the fragility of material things, and so may become more generous, not less. And when they give under these circumstances, it will make Christ look all the more like the all-satisfying Treasure that he is.
But as believers in a God who has demonstrated His faithfulness throughout Scripture, our history, and in our own experience, we can apply Piper's comments to our own lives and ministries. The TRUTH is this:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
So how can lean times be good times? Here are three simple observations:
Lean times are good, because they lead to self-examination. In our hurried lives, being deprived of things we tend to take for granted slows us down and prompts us to ask "Why?" I don't mean the shake-your-fist-at-God or hand-wringing kind of "why," but the healthy kind of sober evaluation that is purifying and humbling. This has been true personally; I raise support to do the ministry to which I am called, and have experienced some leanness in 2011. It's also true in our ministries.
In some of our staff prayer times, our NNYM staff team has been encouraged by an intercessor to examine ourselves as leaders and make sure our hearts were right before God. It's a good thing to do a "heart check," using the plumb line of Scripture and a keen ear to the conviction of the Holy Spirit to discern if "sin in the camp" is part of the problem.
Although many times of laying our souls out for God to examine does lead to conviction and repentance, there is nothing like the freedom of knowing all is right in our relationship with God. Talk about joy and confidence!
Lean times are good, because they are "lean into" times. That simply means we recognize afresh the sufficiency of God (read again the verses from Lamentations), His promise to meet our needs (Matthew 6:33-34), and His adequacy as our bulwark (Psalm 91:1-4). He wants to give us direction, and waits for us to seek Him wholeheartedly (Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:2-8).
This alone could be the best reminder in this article. In the Network's times of prayers, we've often echoed the prayer of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:12: "We are powerless…nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee."
Personally, the stress of the economy has brought my wife and me closer, leaning into one another as we've prayed for God's provision and talked more deeply about the "stuff" of our lives. I believe it has had the same effect on our staff team. I want that more, and pray the same for you as well.
Finally, lean times are good because they help us make our ministries "lean and mean." One question we are asking around the NNYM office right now is where we might need to trim what we are doing, without sacrificing the core mission of who we are, nor abdicating our role in building the kingdom of God. This has led to a more laser-like focus for NNYM that we feel really good about. How do we stimulate the development of healthy networks, and what services and expenses are essential to help us do that? It's not a bad thing to "eliminate and concentrate."
Ultimately, I'm so grateful that in this or any other crisis, God isn't sitting in heaven, anxiously watching the stock tickertapes to see His bottom line. Now if I can just keep my eyes on Him...
Doug Clark is the National Network of Youth Ministries' Director of Field Ministries and lives in San Diego. Doug was a youth pastor at an evangelical Friends church for 16 years before joining the NNYM staff team in 1990. Besides helping youth workers cooperate to reach teenagers in their cities, he coordinates promotion for See You at the Pole.
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Find the whole blog at: http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1464_Bad_Times_Are_Good_for_Missions/.