by Daniel

The world today is facing various challenges and crises that extend across all aspects of life, including the economic, the social, and the health related (the global COVID-19 pandemic, for example), which have impacted not only public health, but also the global economy, social relations, and human psyches. Here we should note that these crises are not just random or natural incidents, but rather they can be viewed as part of the challenges arising from the impact of sin in the world, which has not only affected the individual’s relationship with God but has extended its impact to other aspects of life. These crises remind us of the importance of strengthening our trust in God, Lord over all of history. He allows crises to occur and uses them as a means to purify believers and lead them according to His vision.

In addition, there are economic crises that are manifested in inflation and unemployment, and social crises that include political division, religious and cultural tensions, and the collapse of family structures. These crises represent great challenges, but they also provide us with an opportunity to reflect on how they affect our lives, and how to adapt to these changes that are merely manifestations of humanity that is distant from God. Our quest to find lasting solutions through human wisdom alone is not enough to address the roots of these crises, as they are not only economic, political, or cultural in nature.

Rather, these crises are reflections of spiritual emptiness, the loss of divine guidance, and the lack of dependence on God in the lives of individuals and societies. It is an opportunity to examine our lives more deeply and reflect on how these crises affect our souls, so that God becomes the center of our lives. In Psalm 46: 1-2, we see that the text not only lists the different and numerous types of difficulties that we could face; it also shows us the solution to these difficulties, which lies in knowing God and coming closer to Him (Romans 8:31). But have we ever stopped to ask ourselves: How can a deep crisis reshape our lives? Can the crises we face today be more than just difficult moments in our lives and become opportunities for us to reshape ourselves and our communities?

We cannot give absolute answers to such questions. However, we should be able to have a conversation about what we can discover in the relationship between spirituality and change, and how current crises affect our personal, familial, social, and church lives. We will examine the forms of these crises not only in terms of the negative impacts they have had, but also as an opportunity for positive change and spiritual growth.

We can trace a model for this reshaping in the book of Jonah and Jonah’s crisis with the people of Nineveh, where they had a real opportunity to repent, rebuild themselves, and rebuild their society by God’s mercy and restoration after they turned from their evil ways (Jonah 3:1-10).  In the New Testament, we read in the message of James 1:2 encouraging words for believers to benefit from the joyful results of enduring trials as an opportunity to strengthen faith in the spirit of repentance, to trust in God, and to experience spiritual restoration in general.

We can read spirituality as the deepest dimension of our existence, that is, the dimension that goes beyond materialism and everyday life circumstances, and searches for the meaning and purpose of life. We can also say that it is the force that drives us to search for true inner peace, spiritual guidance, and connection with something greater than ourselves in times of crisis. This peace lies in complete surrendering to God and having faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Together, these are essential aspects of a true spirituality that seeks divine guidance in adversity, that searches for a deeper sense of existence, and that gives us strength and comfort that do not come from material circumstances, but from a living relationship with God.

Spirituality is also not an idea that we meditate on, nor knowledge that we acquire, or a piece of information that we recall. It is a holy way of life that we lead in submission to the guidance of the Spirit through obedience to the living word, and is an experience of that truth that anchors us and provides stability and hope in the midst of chaos. We see this in the parable of the wise man who builds his life on the rock (Matthew 7:24), where Christ becomes the rock that we are supposed to build our lives on so that He may lead us to stability and strength as we believers face tribulation.

As for change, we see it as an integral part of our lives, whether we like it or not. Change occurs often – in fact, constantly – and crises serve as catalysts for this change, forcing us to reconsider our lives and make necessary adjustments, since the change that the believer must seek has to be within the framework of God’s plan for their life. The Word of God makes it clear that change in our lives is not just an accident, but rather part of the divine plan that God is carrying out in our lives (Romans 8:28), so that change is an essential part of God’s work in us, and part of our human and spiritual experience.

Crises can impact various aspects of life. On a personal level, crises may be a test of our spiritual strength, as they can push us to think about what truly matters in our lives and force us to confront our fears and anxieties directly. We may be searching for answers to deep questions about our life’s purpose and the meaning of our existence, but at the same time, crises can be an opportunity to redirect our lives toward what truly matters, whether that is strengthening relationships or seeking new goals.

On the familial level, it is apparent that families are not isolated from the impact of crises, as crises can cause tension in relationships within the family, whether due to financial pressures or anxiety about the future. However, these crises can also be an opportunity to strengthen family ties, as family members come together to face challenges together, and here the importance of spirituality within the family comes to the fore, as it can be a source of strength and cohesion.

On a social level, crises can lead to feelings of separation and isolation, and people may find themselves suffering from loneliness or social anxiety as a result of social distancing or fear of the future. However, this period can be an opportunity for us to rebuild social ties on stronger foundations. We find ourselves searching for things that support us spiritually and help us face challenges together, but the most important thing is for these communities to become part of the church to promote unity in Christ as an essential element in social cohesion.

The matter does not end there, as crises greatly affect the church. People’s attendance at church services may be affected as a result of economic or health-related difficulties. Some may feel that they have more pressing matters to attend to, leading to a decline in their church attendance, which may pose a major challenge to the church in maintaining its traditional role as a center for spirituality and religious education.

Based on all the aspects of life mentioned above, we as believers should ponder the following questions: How can crises become turning points in our relationship with God? Can these difficult periods cause us to rethink our concept of true inner peace that comes from God alone through Jesus Christ, and how to achieve it? The fruitful role of the church in an individual’s life is directly reflected in their social life, given that church education is not just individual learning, but rather is necessary for building an integrated spiritual and moral life, which contributes to forming an aesthetic vision of the society in which the believer lives. This vision comes from the profound transformation brought about by the Word of God, meaning that it “restores and completes”^[1] the life of the believer and their relationship with others on the one hand, and gives them the ability to see the world with a new perspective, which enhances their role in society through moral and spiritual values ​​on the other hand (Romans 12:2).

Therefore, in difficult times, many search for a deeper meaning in their lives. Crises may push us to confront fateful questions about our existence. The search for meaning then represents a turning point in our spiritual lives, because drawing closer to God in times of crisis is not a mere refuge from reality, but rather a search for the true inner peace that only He can give us. We may find ourselves searching for God in a new way, rethinking our faith, and opening our hearts to prayer and contemplation.

In his book The City of God, Saint Augustine talks about the idea of ​​eternal peace and the search for God as the main source of this peace. He says: “True peace is not the absence of disturbances, but rather the presence of God in our lives.”^[2] These words reflect the decisive role that spirituality can play in achieving inner peace during crises, and we find in them a reflection of our spiritual state in times of distress, as Augustine acknowledges in his book the fluctuations his heart goes through and the internal struggle he suffers from until he finds comfort in God.

We read in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This text is a source that reflects the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that should prevail among family members, especially in times of distress, but the question that arises is: How can we use this? How can we see challenges as an opportunity to strengthen family ties? Prayer and family solidarity are among the most important tools that can help a family overcome crises. The spiritual power of prayer can provide a family with a refuge to seek peace and guidance in difficult times. For example, a family coming together to pray can create a feeling of solidarity and unity, as everyone becomes part of a shared spiritual experience.

We, as believers, must also be wary of despair and psychological difficulties, as they are among the greatest risks that can result from crises. When a person is exposed to severe stress, they may begin to feel that there is no way out of the situation they are experiencing. Despair may make a person feel like there is no hope or meaning to life, which can lead them to psychological collapse. Therefore, the spiritual and psychological traps that a person may face in such times include surrendering to fear, isolating from others, and feeling that God has abandoned them. This may lead a person to turn away from what previously helped them endure hardships, such as prayer and participation in a spiritual community. The Lord reminds us in Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Therefore, if we adopt a realistic vision, we find that crises reveal weaknesses in the social and cultural fabric of societies, but they also provide serious opportunities for reformation and chances for enhanced solidarity and building stronger social bonds in the face of challenges. These moments of solidarity may create a feeling of unity and common purpose, which strengthens the fabric of society. Social solidarity appears when individuals go beyond their personal needs and care for others.

In a quick survey of the teachings of Jesus Christ, we find His messages full of urging for us to practice humanism through loving our neighbors and serving our societies. Jesus not only cared about the vulnerable and marginalized, but also urged his followers to do the same, so that these teachings would contribute to building a more just and humane society. (The Good Samaritan parable is a strong example of this.) Therefore, despite the powerful storms that strike our world, there is a profound divine call accompanying the storms that reveals our spiritual experience. Accordingly, the challenges we face are not just passing experiences, but rather heavenly contributions that go deep into faith and spirituality, turning these crises into moments of divine purification and spiritual renewal.

Thus, it is important for us to engage today in reshaping our societies on the foundations of divine love since these are the foundations that illuminate our paths in the darkness and the chaos of challenges and crises, not only at the level of our individual lives, but in the social structures that surround us. This is how the church becomes a tool for embodying a collective spirituality that gives its people a vision for providing spiritual support and acts of mercy to communities, and even turns crises into tools to affirm our commitment to the message of Jesus Christ, which represents a source of strength and true peace for all humanity instead of defeat and surrender.

Daniel is from Baghdad, Iraq. He is a student in the graduating class of the Bachelor of Theology program at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the winner of the 2024 Ghassan Khalaf student writing contest. He has a passion for theological education and ministry and wants to continue pursuing theological education through higher degrees.

[1] Silva, David. Introduction to the New Testament. Dar Manhal Al Hayat, Lebanon. P. 203.

[2] St. Augustine. The City of God. Dar Al Mashreq, Egypt. P. 110.

Ghassan Khalaf Endowment