Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38

Our culture continues to shift away from the things of God. Godlessness is all around us. Students face it in the classroom. Adults face it in the workplace. The news is filled with stories of lostness and lawlessness. I confess, at times, I feel frustrated, annoyed and angry. But this is quite the opposite response from what Jesus displayed. Jesus felt compassion when he saw the people, and challenges us to follow Him.

I Kings 19:3-4

And [Elijah] was afraid, and got up and ran for his life… But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.

I am so thankful God is patient with us. He doesn’t condemn Elijah after he runs away in fear and discouragement. God refreshes him. He gives Elijah food, nourishment, rest and friendship. And one chapter later in I Kings 20 Elijah returns to his calling as the prophet of God.

What about you? Have you lost vision or direction for your future? Have you lost a sense of calling and hear God saying, “What are you doing here?” Your situation might be related to burnout, strained relationships or circumstances that are out of your control.

Read more to discover a few practical steps that can help you renew and clarify your vision and direction when you feel defeated, confused or alone.

I fear that many believers approach God’s Word so casually, that it has little impact on their lives. I often wonder if the reason many are not coming back to church in attendance is a reflection of minimal Bible exposure.

The headlines today are filled with crisis, conflict, confusion and chaos. There are many questions regarding politics, government, medicine, war, sports, media and more. What is the truth? What is not the truth? And who can you trust to report the truth? Do we just fold our arms and say, “it is what it is?” What can we do? We can get back to the Bible - the ultimate source of truth.

“It is what it is,” a statement of defeat, seems to have become the motto of the church. But it doesn’t have to be. There is much we can do, and one of those things is to unify relationships within the true Body of Christ.

Believers in Christ face serious challenges today: cultural, political, relational and more. There are so many differing opinions among us. But there is also something we share in common: our love for Jesus! That should be our driving passion - the Christ-life.

Many years ago a pastor-friend expressed that he didn’t appreciate the phrase “it is what it is.” In fact, he adamantly resisted the thought. Instead, he prefers to believe “it is what we make it to be..” Difficulties in life will come, but this is not time for us to “hold the fort.” It is time for us to “take the hill.” And we can do that by faith. God has a great plan. Let’s dispense with “it is what it is” and embrace the faith to “make it what it can be” by doing what we can do…and we can do much!!!