Standing firm in faith despite crises
Certainty in uncertain times
Written by Andreas Pantli with Silja Fröhling
The sky is closing in ominously, the first thick drops are pattering on the surface of the lake. Thunder rumbles in the distance, getting closer and closer, gusts of wind make the boat’s mast tremble. The waves are getting higher, sloshing into the boat until it is almost full of water.
It could also be the weather report from Hamburg, but most Bible experts will probably know which story I’m referring to. When Jesus is out on the lake at night with his disciples, a storm comes up. Jesus lies in the back of the boat and sleeps. The Gospel of Mark even says that his head is resting on a pillow (Mark 4:38). The disciples try to get a grip on the situation with their own strength and when they realize that they can’t do it alone, they desperately wake Jesus up.
Even if we are rarely out at sea during a storm in everyday life, we all know situations in our lives in which we feel as helpless as the disciples when a storm comes out of nowhere and their boat threatens to sink.
Uncertainty reveals what or who our God really is
Spring 2020: The WHO declares an international health emergency. Schools and daycares are closed from one day to the next, masks, curfews and contact restrictions, fear and anger balance each other out. The coronavirus crisis hit us almost overnight and a quick glance at the news shows that things are getting more and more unstable. Wars are getting closer, countries are politically divided. In such uncertain times, it becomes clear who or what our God really is and what we trust in. A secure job? A well-planned future? Financial security? Our own abilities?
In crisis situations, we train our dependence on God
When the disciples wake Jesus up, he asks them, “Why are you so full of fear? Do you not have faith?” (Mark 4:40). Jesus slept peacefully even during the strong storm because he was deeply convinced that God was there. How often do we feel the same way? How often are we afraid and worried, even though we actually know that God will provide for us? And how often do we try in our own strength and only go to Jesus when we realize that we can’t do it on our own? Paul writes in Corinthians: “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). If we learn to recognize our own weakness, then God can unleash his full strength.
In uncertain times, our faith is tested and purified
Jesus asks the disciples whether they still have no faith because they are being led by their fear and not by their faith. In crises, our faith is tested and purified.
When Jesus commands the water to be still and threatens the wind, there is an immediate calm and the disciples say to each other in fear: “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:41) The word fear is used in this verse. This fear of God has nothing to do with the fear they felt seconds before, but with a holy reverence for God. This fear of God is increasingly being lost in our current society and also among us Christians. We need a renewed awareness of the difference between us humans and our all-powerful, all-knowing and loving Father. Uncertainty and crises give us the chance to grasp this difference in size anew.
I have experienced a few crises and storms myself in recent years. When my wife Tina, my two children and I were commissioned by God to go to Hamburg and set up a church there, there were many questions and fears. Would people even join our adventure? Would we have enough financial support? What if the rows of chairs remained empty? I had been a permanent employee at ICF Zurich for 17 years and then taking the step of moving 1,000 km away and leaving a large, functioning church was not easy.
We then had two incredibly encouraging years and at the end of 2019 our prayers were answered and we were finally able to sign a three-year lease for a location. I remember saying to my wife Tina: “I think we’ve got the start-up phase behind us and can now move on a little more easily.”
The first lockdown came shortly afterwards. Suddenly everything was back to square one. What would happen to our church now? How should we continue with the small groups and home groups? How were we supposed to lead a church that we couldn’t meet?
During this time, I got a vision: I saw us sailing on a boat through a strong storm and knew that the storm had the potential to knock our ship off course and steer it straight into rocks. But then I suddenly saw how we all pitched in and hung onto the sail with all our available strength. I felt God speak to me: “If you are prepared to go all in and not sit back passively during this phase, then this storm can become an opportunity.”
In uncertain times, our perspective on the present and eternity changes
In crises, we often refocus on eternity and the kingdom of God. We need not worry if we put God’s kingdom first. God promises that if we prioritize him, he will give us success. Romans 8:18 says: “I am sure that our suffering now cannot be compared to the shining-greatness that He is going to give us.” Such a change of perspective helps us to see the current difficulties in a larger context and to strengthen our faith.
We were also able to experience how God had prepared all of this. On impulse, we had tested a camera and a live stream of the service the week before, although it was actually completely unnecessary for our church size at the time. On Friday, the lockdown was announced and on Sunday, just seven days later, I stood with a few helpers in an empty service room and welcomed people into their living rooms for our first livestream. God knew exactly what we needed and provided it for us.
When we were able to hold our first in-person services again some time later, more people came than ever before. The livestream meant that many people found out about our church in the first place. We soon had to expand to two services per Sunday and we are currently even planning to introduce a third. We are still baptizing people and integrating them into our small groups who come across us via the livestream and can get to know God in this way.
Jesus does not promise that there will be no storms in our lives. But he is in the same boat with us and will bring us safely to shore if we let him take the lead and trust that he is so much more powerful than any crisis or uncertainty we experience. If we trust God, then crises can also become opportunities.
* * *
In 2017, Andreas Pantli and his wife Tina founded an ICF in the heart of Hamburg. The church services at ICF Hamburg are now attended by 400-500 people a week and the sermons on YouTube reach around 1,000 households every week.
Before that, Andreas was Head of Productions & Celebrations at ICF Zurich. There he worked hand in hand with artists, worship leaders, technicians and pastors for 19 years to create relevant and excellent worship services, events and conferences. Andreas and Tina are parents of two teenagers, Shira and Milo, and proud dog owners of Labrador Leroy.
Vorschau der Änderungen (öffnet in neuem Tab)
© Foto Andreas Pantli: ICF
