What oozes out of you when you are squeezed?
Let me explain.
A favourite quote of mine is by Smith Wigglesworth:
“Be filled with the Spirit – that is, be soaked with the Spirit. Be so soaked that every thread in the fabric of your life will have received the requisite rule of the Spirit – and then, when you are misused and squeezed to the wall, all that will ooze out of you will be the nature of Christ.”
Suffice to say, Burundians, already living in the world’s poorest and hungriest nation*, are being squeezed to the wall right now in an almost unprecedented way:
- For several months, there have been debilitating fuel shortages.
- Food prices have shot up spectacularly. People simply cannot afford to eat enough and malnourishment is increasing.
- Power cuts are frequent, affecting refrigeration, medical services, and education.
- Authorities implemented an absurd ban on bicycles, motorbikes and tuk-tuks in the capital. As a result, many thousands of the poorest people’s livelihoods have been destroyed.
- The fuel shortage and the ban mean folks have two options: If you can afford it, join a monster queue for a bus (often a two-hour wait) or walk miles to and from your workplace, school or market in the miserable heat and humidity.
The squeeze is on amidst much despair and weariness.
I returned from Burundi yesterday, having met with leader after inspiring leader, all oozing Christ during this season of intense squeezing. It was a humble privilege. Beautiful fruit is growing in fertile soil.
The world is in a chaotic mess right now; there are huge needs everywhere. I hate asking, but this is part of the job that the Lord has given me – to seek support for God’s stunning servants.
If you could give a monthly (or one-off) gift, you’ll be helping to bring about transformation in many lives through our health clinics, community agriculture projects, schools, sanitary pad provision for girls, homes and help for widows, street-connected children outreach, Bible distribution, training centres (that enable young women to leave the demeaning cycle of prostitution), and so many more vital initiatives.
And if you can’t give, we understand. Please do pray though – we are a movement steeped in prayer, which is why we are seeing so much lasting fruit amidst so much relentless adversity.
Let me close with Smith Wigglesworth again, as he challenges each one of us:
“Live ready. If you have to get ready when the opportunity comes your way, you’ll be too late. Opportunity doesn’t wait, not even while you pray. You must not have to get ready, you must live ready at all times!”
How are you doing on that one?! Are you being squeezed?
Here’s to living ready! Here’s to oozing the nature of Christ, whatever you’re going through!
God bless you all!
Simon
Thank you for this.
As a Burundian, it is so sad to see how hard the life has become to most of the community members.
Thank you for sharing and calling for help.
Many lives really need to be rescued.
Simon, thank you for your words well said. It is a hard time all over with many inflating prices for basics and the provisions necessary to make a better life for us and our children. But, with that said, I thank you for the opportunity to serve in the little way I can. With a small donation to the cause of Christ’s love in the cities and by-ways of Burundi. We are praying for relief and for the Spirit to take over the government so as to let the light of Jesus shine. Bless you and all you do. From the highest position to the lowest, let the love of Jesus call out to all who are served.