Living Faithfully in Uncertain Times

This one is tricky to start, so I’m just going to delve straight in… a prophetic word about war coming to England has been circulating in the Church. It seems to have originated from Pete Greig, who wisely sought advice and discernment and only shared it at a small gathering. There has also been a prophetic word about something big coming to the UK circulating for over a decade.

Here at RM, we do believe that God is active today, meets us in our messiness, and speaks to us, however that may come about. So, I think these words are worth reflecting on at this time.

Firstly, whether we believe in the particular gift of prophecy or not, when we read or listen to the news, we can sense the political, social and economic climate in the UK. Anyone who knows something of the cycles of history can recognise the dangerous moment we have been in for some time.

There is a rise in autocratic governments, a rise in the far right, increasing inequality and growing climate instability, which is contributing to displacement and migration alongside many other factors. A key Western ally is courting ‘strong men’, while rising nationalism is dividing what we once thought of as a stable democratic Western system, all while Putin continues his war in Ukraine. Alongside this, misogyny and racism are gaining traction, especially in the UK.

Please know I am not idolising any political system as the best one, just noting a change. It doesn’t look pretty when we look at the world in this way. The disruption to our long season of peace in Western Europe no longer feels like a distant possibility.

Although this is not the whole story, these factors, amongst many others, show us that we are in a precarious time. This is not new to humanity, but this generation is dealing with it anew. These prophetic words may be God speaking to us in such a season, but they do not stand alone. They may simply be one word amongst many, or a wake-up call that causes Christians to listen.

What’s also worth reflecting on is that when Jesus became one of us, he entered occupied territory, with different factions and zealots risking imminent war. He lived among people who knew what it was to live under threat. There were no nuclear weapons or climate change, but the possibility of lives being lost, either under Roman rule, through resistance to it, or simply by being dragged into conflict, was ever present. Sexism, misogyny and racism were rife, and Jesus knows what it is like to be a refugee, to live under threat of coming war and to be killed amongst it all.

We have a Saviour who enters into our messiness and suffers with us. This may not fix everything, but it gives us someone to turn to, knowing that he understands what it is like to be scared of what could come and still be faithful.

How then shall we live?

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

In this passage (Luke 19:41-44), Jesus is both weeping over the city’s rejection of himself and the coming war. When we need to, let’s weep with Jesus, pray for our country, our communities, our leaders who have the power to act, and those we hold close. And let’s hope that our tears will reap joy.

Hope

We have the capacity, as humans, to break historical cycles and create new paths. We regularly meet people in our communities choosing to care for one another. Let’s hope that this shines brighter than all the chaos.

Our capacity to choose unity, peace and justice is still within our grasp, but more importantly, it is within God’s. There are several reasons dictatorships clamp down on free speech, religion and art. One is that they can keep hope alive. Whatever this season, or the next, brings, hoping in Jesus is vital.

Act

We follow the example of Jesus by continuing to love the one in front of us, so people know that they are forgiven and cared for. We keep creating communities of hope, so that together we can create a hopeful future.

This is something we are good at in the rural context: being a community together, noticing those who can’t get their prescriptions, or those trapped by local floods. Let’s keep being the people who notice and act.

There are many ways we can speak up and get involved in our communities and in local politics, to make a difference and take a stand. Thank you to all of you who are already doing this. And if there’s something you’ve wanted to put your energy towards for a while now, perhaps it’s time to start.

Cultivate inner peace

Our inner peace is being epically disrupted, and it is in prayer that we slowly cultivate contentment in this season, and the peace of God begins to surpass our own understanding. Over the years, prayer has been the place I’ve taken all my emotions and fears concerning the season we are in. I encourage you to do the same, if you are not already. This is not a quick fix, nor does it stop the poor decisions of those in power. But if we allow God to shape us, and begin to discover the Spirit’s peace in a time of fear, we can continue to make decisions out of love rather than fear. There will be a little more light in this world in the midst of all the darkness, and that is invaluable.

Be prepared

As a former Girl Guide, always ‘be prepared’ comes to mind. It’s not about fear, but about understanding that life doesn’t always go to plan and there are ways we can prepare ourselves.

In our rural context, we know what it can be like to be cut off by a flood, a field fire, poor internet connection or phone signal, and road closures. Which means we know how to prepare and how to look out for each other. The current government guidance on emergency preparedness encourages households to make simple plans, keep some basic supplies and, importantly, think about our neighbours and who might need additional support.

Let’s stand at the gate, prepared for what’s coming, but always looking out for signs of Jesus.

It’s also a fresh reminder to treasure the people and the peace we have, to soak up every moment. Not just because everything could change in a second, but because it’s worth treasuring.

I write this not to place more fear in our lives. There’s far too much of that around. I hope instead to help us reflect faithfully on the season we are in and the potential prophetic words being whispered at the moment. To stay silent would be unfair, but to suddenly panic would also be. Whatever is in store for us, history doesn’t have to repeat itself and as I said in my previous reflection, God is with us. I encourage us to continue to walk with Jesus through it.

Jo

Jo Allen

Joint CEO, Rural Ministries