Where is God When I’m Hurting?
By Cara Taylor, Director of Outreach
Dark mornings, soggy skies, holidays approaching. This time of year can bring up the blues and also call us to cozy togetherness. The celebrations and the shopping are supposed to spread the love. But sometimes they just make the loneliness and anxiety ache more. Even when we put our hope in Jesus, pain can keep us feeling far from God and one another.
The reality is that God is near to the broken-hearted, the crushed in spirit. He does not leave us alone…he sets us in a new family, his family. Jesus came as a baby, to experience all that life dishes out, in order to prove that nothing can separate us from God’s love. And to make us the kind of family that shares that love with one another.
That’s why Chapel Hill has the tradition of Festival of Hope. The weekend before Thanksgiving is a global market that gives us a chance to find meaningful gifts and draw closer to one another. Gift-giving becomes a way of seeing one another and feeling seen.
A few weeks ago, Pastor Ellis pointed out that our work life is part of how we reflect God, love our neighbor, and live out our calling. The same is true of how we shop…we are participating in the work life of the whole planet. Apart from God, shopping often deepens our loneliness because we live in a world of transactions instead of relationships. It’s a race for the best deal, sometimes deeply harming the people producing the work, instead of a chance to celebrate God-given creativity and connection.
But at Festival of Hope, the jewelry is signed by the woman who made it…the woman who experienced God’s rescue from human trafficking. The pottery is stamped by the parents who have a job that pays the bills so they can keep their child. The coffee and chocolate are farmed by the man who feels pride in working instead of having to migrate from his home. The baskets are made in the Tanzanian village where we sponsor children. And the proceeds of the sale go entirely back into our outreach partnerships and cross-cultural teams that are sharing the good news of Jesus.
You won’t hear this often…but plan to shop on November 23 before or after church. Invite your friends and neighbors! We have an amazing selection and great values. People love the chance to be part of making a positive impact in the world, and they get a glimpse of the heart of God.
It is a joy to give these gifts and tell the stories of the people and places where they come from (especially if you sign up to serve and make the magic happen). It can truly change the way we think about our spending all year long, as a way not only to provide for our own needs, but to care for one another. Which gets back to my first question…
Where is God when we’re hurting? God is right there in the middle of our stories. That’s why we want to shop with our eyes open. And it’s also why we need to share our own stories with one another. We need friends who hold onto hope with us when we are hurting. At Chapel Hill, that’s why we have LifeGroups. That’s what my LifeGroup is for me. So I have another special invitation for my fellow women.
It might feel like a huge leap to trust others with your pain. But I hope it will feel like an easier first step to come shop with me! Empower women worldwide and hear stories of hope at the Anchored in Hope Women’s Brunch. If you are in a LifeGroup, bring them! If you don’t have one yet, come meet one.
Here’s what you can expect:
- One woman’s story of how God met her deepest pain
- Encouragement for how faith connects us in our work and our friendships
- A delicious brunch and raffle for special gifts
- Bring a friend, neighbor, daughter, mom
- Wear what makes you happy
- Find the people who will be your people!
Anchored in Hope Women’s Brunch
Saturday, November 22 at 10:00 am
Gathering Place at Chapel Hill Church
$20 (includes brunch and raffle ticket)
Reserve your ticket here before Wednesday, November 12.
REGISTER HERE!
See you there!
Cara