Emergency and crisis situations arise in people’s lives. It may be the death of a loved one, not having enough money, problems in relationships, etc.; however, most Christians tend to stop what they are doing and turn their whole focus onto the situation. In our effort to handle the situation, we switch priories. We make solving the problem our highest priority, and least priority is Christ. I find that most Christians tend to stop what they are doing, when facing a crisis. They stop attending church, they stop serving—they draw back from the life giving source, and have a tendency to panic and run to every one asking for help, or their opinion. However, this is just the opposite of what Christ did when faced with a crisis situation upon the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, a forerunner of Christ.
“When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ And they said to Him, ‘We have here only five loaves and two fish.’ He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children” (Matthew 14:13-21).
Notice that the first thing Christ did when he heard the news about John the Baptist’s death: He separated Himself unto God and got God’s focus on the problem. He did not turn to His disciples and ask what they thought He drew away to hear what God thought. In the midst of a crisis situation, the first thing we are to do is to turn to God and ask for physical, emotional and spiritual strength and wisdom.
Secondly, the crisis did not cause Jesus to withdraw from ministering to people. Crisis is never an excuse to stop serving. Remember, you control the situation—not that you are controlled by it.
Thirdly, even if another crisis breaks out while you are in the midst of the first one keep your focus—do not be apart of the problem. In our text, Jesus had ministered to the crowd of people until evening time and the people were hunger. The disciples’ solution to the problem was to send them away hungry; however, through this discourse we learn the lesson: God expects us to be apart of the solution; not the problem. Jesus told His disciples, “You feed them.”
Fourth, do not worry about the quantity of your resources in finding a solution to the problem. Little becomes much when given to God.
Lastly, Give thanks to God, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
All of us face crisis and problems in our life. But God has already given us the guidelines how to keep our focus and find a solution. The following acronym will help to keep your focus in every crisis:
C ─ Christ
R ─ Risen
I ─ In
S ─ Situation
I ─ Immediately
S ─ Solved
