Today we got to go inside our church during the worship service again. We arrived in our car as we had been for the last 10 months, approximately, but this time when we got there we told the kids we were going inside the building. Wow! The look of joy and excitement on their faces will be in my memory forever.
Going inside a church building may seem like a simple thing, but not when your faith is under attack under the guise of public health. There is a pastor in Alberta, Canada who is in jail right now just for holding church services.
I mean, I just never thought I’d see the day that Canada, the true North strong and FREE, would be jailing pastors simply for practicing their faith. I know the early church faced this persecution, I’ve heard of it in muslim countries or Communist China, but in Canada? I know it’s happening, and the Bible warns of such issues but it’s still amazing to see it happening right in front of me… and so many people are still asleep.
Nevertheless, I have faith that light always wins out over darkness and today was a shining victory when we walked through the doors of our church again for the first time in months.
I have also started volunteering in the cafe once a week at our church, it’s been about 5 weeks now. It’s fun learning how to brew all the Starbucks beverages, but more importantly it has me inside the doors of my church helping out, even if only in a small way.
I have to celebrate these small victories because they actually feel really big. When you have months of those in positions of authority making highly detrimental decisions that affect the health and well-being of all citizens with seemingly no end in sight every little step forward feels like a victory.
A couple months back I made a point of imagining myself inside the church singing praises and worship to God with other believers; today was a step closer to that––we were in the overflow area because of capacity restrictions. But, I will keep focusing on that glorious day when we all get to sing together again. I will not stop focusing on the goodness of God and everything He has done for me.
No matter what, I will keep praising my God because I know that in all things He is working for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)