Epic Family,

The hits just keep on coming. I know you don’t need me to tell you about all of the things that have been hard this year, but here are some of them:

• A once-in-a-lifetime pandemic (at least we hope it doesn’t happen again)
• Your kids having to go to school at home, while you try to work from home
• An economic crisis
• Racial injustice and the heartache that goes with it
• Restrictions on being able to attend church and other social gatherings

In addition to these things, I’ve been in conversations with many in our community about other painful realities. I’ve been in communication with three people in our Epic community who have battled cancer. We have had at least two young couples lose babies during this season. I heard from two people just this week about losing their jobs.

There has been so much pain in this season. Perhaps all of this pain, as well as other hurts, have left you with a crushed spirit. There are two verses I want to share with you about having a crushed spirit. One of these indicates how devastating it is to have a crushed spirit and the other one will hopefully encourage you if you find yourself with a crushed spirit today.

Proverbs 18:14 The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a CRUSHED SPIRIT who can bear? We can deal with sickness. We can go through trials. We can even navigate losing a job. But what we can’t handle is a crushed spirit. We can’t thrive when we are constantly living in despair.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are CRUSHED IN SPIRIT. If you are experiencing pain or hopelessness right now, God wants to come near. Let me encourage you to invite Him into your pain. Don’t hide your pain. Don’t think you have to take care of it yourself. Say something like this – “Jesus, I invite you into my pain. You know what it’s like to suffer. Will you comfort me and bring me a deep sense of your peace?”

3 Things We Need When We Have a Crushed Spirit:

1. The Nearness of God – Psalm 73:28, James 4:8

2. A Community Where We are Known and Loved – 1 Corinthians 12:26

3. A Confident Expectation that Our Story Will Not End in Despair – Hebrews 11:1, 1 Peter 1:3-4

While I long for better days for all of us, our team at Epic is here for you if this is a painful time. Don’t walk alone through this season. God has your back and so does your Epic community.

Much Love,