I wonder if every generation has periods of time that feel alarmingly unstable, like society is about to fly apart or collapse. I’m guessing things felt dire during the Great Depression for most Americans. And I figure it wasn’t too fun for anyone here during the American Civil War.

I do know the current situation in the United States, as well as our place in global society, feels very unsettling. Leaders aren’t leading. Chaos has settled in to rule. The strain on people trying to live their lives and make a living seems to multiply daily.

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’” (Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭38‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

In Jesus’s time, this kind of struggle was prolific as well. Challenges mount up against people whether they are good or bad. Pain, poverty, disease, injustice, and grief are rampant. Greed, pride, and selfishness exacerbate the challenges.

Life here on earth is very hard.

This is not how God created His world to be. He did create it with free will though, and unfortunately, we chose evil. We brought this mess upon ourselves.

One day God promises to make it all new, a fresh start, without the evil. That will be such a beautiful relief.

But until then, He has a plan to mitigate, minimize, and ameliorate our pain. What is that plan? The plan is for you and me to do the ameliorating.

Every day, my job is to look for ways to make someone else’s life better. Healing, helping, praying for, giving generously, and talking about how the God of the universe loves them.

God loves you, and He doesn’t want you to live in pain. Trust Him with your life today, get to work ameliorating, and put your hope in that beautiful new day to come.

Dear God, I know you understand how difficult life in our mucked up world feels. You came here to live it yourself. You saw how your people suffered from disease, greedy leaders, and myriad struggles. You spent your days healing, loving, and teaching about love. And then we killed you. Thank you for not ending our story there. Thank you for forgiveness and the hope of a beautiful new world. Until then show me how to be an effective harvest worker.