Every event in the world gives rise to new words and terminologies. Since the later part of last year till now, I believe the most common phrase I have heard is ‘Global economic meltdown’.

The current economic situation in the world has been described in various ways. Recently, I heard Prime Minister of Britain, Gordon Brown refer to it as  ‘an economic earthquake’.  The economies of the developed countries of this world as we know them, are in recession. Governments are frantically doing all they can to revive their economies, thus we hear the frequent use of the phrase, ‘Bailout plan’.

No doubt we live in grave and difficult times. People are losing jobs in their millions and there isn’t any assurance that there would be a turn around in the world economy any time soon. There is fear everywhere. Those who have jobs are afraid of losing them; those who have lost jobs are afraid of losing their homes and other possessions.

How does a Christian respond to this situation? Should we be afraid like everyone else or should we just presumptuously ignore what is happening and live as if  none of these things will affect us?

This is not the only time the world has faced an economic crisis and I dare say it will not be the last. However, one thing is true, recession or not, God takes care of His own. It is in times like this that God is glorified in the lives of His people.

There was a time in the Bible when the land of Canaan was experiencing a recession. Isaac had a analyzed the situation and decided it was time to leave. His plan was to head for Egypt but he decided to make a detour at Gerar. It was here that God appeared to him and instructed Isaac not proceed on his journey to Egypt (Gen 26:2) He went on further to encourage Isaac, ‘Stay here for a while. I will be with you and give you my blessing. I will give all of these lands to you and your children after you. And I will keep the promise I made with an oath to your father Abraham” (Gen 26:3) In verse 12 of that same chapter, we learn that Isaac planted crops in the land and in that same year, he made a 100 times more than he planted.

God has not changed. He cares for His own just like He cared for Isaac. The Psalmist confirmed God’s ability to provide for His own when he stated with confidence, ‘I once was young, and now I'm old. But I've never seen godly people deserted. I've never seen their children begging for bread’ (Psalmist 37:25). Such confidence! Such Hope! These words are eternally true.

To answer the question above therefore, we can say that the response of the Christian in times like these, is to put our implicit trust in God’s word. In His word, we find His promises to us and also examples of how He took care of His people over the ages.

The same reason why God could not break His promise to Abraham, even after he was long gone; is the same reason why He will not break His promise to you today.

I am not saying that Christians will not lose jobs or suffer losses in investments; I know many have lost jobs already but what I am saying is that God is able to take care of His own.

We cannot predict how He will do it but we can depend on Him to take care of us – even in times like these.
© Biblepraise Fellowship Online,  February 2009

Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the webmaster of Biblepraise Fellowship Online at http://www.biblepraise.org. British by birth, He currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria with wife Maris and their children; Praise, Stephanie and Precious. He works in the IT department of a bank. He presently serves as Church Secretary and Heads the Music Ministry in his local church . He loves to encourage and inspire through speaking forums. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise.org