What Does God Expect of You in These Tumultuous Times?

The last four months have delivered a global pandemic the likes of which we haven’t faced in over 100 years, a level of social turmoil unseen since the 1960s, and economic pressures that we rarely experience. Although it would be easy to get overwhelmed and depressed, we should remind ourselves that, as difficult as these circumstances are, God is still in control. Completely.

Some people take very seriously the world’s ills and feel obligated to address them. This is admirable. But don’t overdo it. In reality, the weight of the world is not on your shoulders. You’re not responsible for – nor are you capable of – solving every global calamity.

We each have 168 hours per week, and the majority of those hours are spent maintaining family relationships, working, and sleeping. Practically speaking, you must ask yourself, “What would God have me do?”

Perhaps Micah 6:8 answers this question better than any other Bible verse:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

                                              Micah 6:8 (ESV)

Doing justice addresses our public “face” and involves actively interceding on others’ behalf. Unfortunately, our world is rife with countless examples of injustice. Complying with this directive might require you to speak up when you see someone being mistreated, challenge a discriminatory policy, join a group actively promoting greater equality, or participate with any number of other worthwhile initiatives. And recognize that doing so may cost you personally and require sacrifice.

Loving kindness (or “mercy” in some translations) focuses on my demeanor, personal behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Are you gracious and compassionate? Are you dependable? Do people know they can count on you in a crisis?

Both of the preceding behaviors find their roots in living humbly, trusting God. He is God, and you’re not. He is all-loving, all-powerful, and all-wise. Even when you face terrible circumstances, God is still in control and, as promised in Romans 8:28, is working all things together for good for those who love him. Can you joyfully embrace that? I mean, can you really embrace that? I mean really, really embrace that? Doing so is evidence that you recognize your place and are walking humbly with God, even when you don’t like your situation. Never doubt God’s love. As Tony Evans reminds us, “If someone loves you enough to die for you, he is for you.”

If you are doing your best to comply with these three requirements, and if you are sincerely seeking God’s direction for which one, two or three of the literally millions of the world’s problems he is calling you to address, you can move forward, confident God is using you make a difference within your sphere of influence. You can’t do everything, but you can and must do something. Your job is to determine God’s will for you without deciding what he wants others to do. That’s between them and God.

If every member of the Body of Christ were to live according to Micah 6:8, collectively, we would be the hands and feet of Jesus and make a difference in this totally messed up world.

I encourage you to pray through Micah 6:8 to evaluate how well you are living up to God’s expectations. But please don’t do it out of a sense of guilt or compulsion. Instead, ask God how – in your own world – he wants you to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with him. And then enjoy watching him use you as an instrument of his grace.