Society is challenging right now on many levels. Very few things are flourishing; many things feel barren and fruitless. We're at a crossroads: we can either recede or reseed.

Months into a pandemic, with economic pressures, racial tensions, urban unrest, and an election year all swirling around us, we feel exhausted. We ARE exhausted. How can we find rest for our bodies, minds, and souls during a season like this?

Our feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are often the result of having put our hope in things that fail us. We make plans. We trust our resources. We know how this self-salvation is supposed to go. And then these things betray us. What is the real source of hope in midst of difficult circumstances?

If something sacred is being defiled, silence is sin. We cannot simply ignore the plight of the vulnerable and oppressed, and pretend to be true followers of Jesus. We must cry out in protest and actively do justice and mercy.

Get a mission and a hope that never change, and then constantly find new ways to invite others in. Be willing to adapt and innovate new methods for maximum Gospel impact.

In Christ, your destiny has already been determined. But God isn't in a hurry to get you from where you are to that final perfection. He seems to be as interested in the journey as the destination. How do you worship God in the day-to-day process of becoming who he's called you to be?

Times of waiting and suffering can stimulate severe negative reactions beyond the normal doubts, fears, and frustrations. How do you guard your heart to thrive during these times?

When your Plan A fails and there's no way for you to pull the pieces back together, your only hope is a redeemer: someone who can purchase for you a better future and hope.

How do you respond when whole seasons (or chapters) of your life are just filled with difficulty and waiting? When it looks like God doesn't have any real purpose or trajectory for your life?

The longer you have to wait for God to keep his promises to you, the harder it becomes. Trust can easily be displaced by doubt, cynicism, and manipulation. What does it look like to stand on the promises of God?