By: Laura Bennett
Have you ever found yourself asking βhow did I get here?β. Wondering, in lifeβs hurried pace and despite all your best intentions, how you arrived somewhere you never expected to be. Somewhere marked with disappointment perhaps, or just despondence and lethargy?
Christine Caine is one of the most tenacious and bold speakers of our generation. In her work as an evangelist and the founder of global anti trafficking agency A21, sheβs earned a reputation for being an energetic straight-shooter who isnβt easily fazed.
That changed in 2016-2018, Christine said, when sequential family deaths and a betrayal from a friend left her feeling unusually drained and weary.
βI was so bombarded emotionally,β Christine said.
βThere was a weariness in my soul and I found things to distract me.
βThere were things in me where before I wanted to build bridges and meet people [and then] it was like, βYou know what? I might just go into hidingβ.β
The experience framed Christineβs latest book, How Did I Get Here?, A place she describes as one of βdriftingβ where βpain and disappointmentβ subtly altered her course.
For the first time Christine wasnβt asking βcould she do all she dreamed of? Was it even possible?β, but instead wondered βdo I even want to?β.
βI just thought, βYou know if I just take my foot off the gas a bit, nobodyβs really going to noticeβ,β Christine said.
βIβm still a Christian, Iβm not doing anything bad, but Iβm just not going to press βChris Caineβ style: all in, full on, letβs go charge hell with a water pistol,β she laughed.
Along with her personal pressures, Christine believes her feelings describe what is common among so many people right now, who feel weighed down by a world thatβs tumultuous on every level β from government, to social angst and religious deconstructionism.
βPeople are feeling pressure like never before,β Christine said.
βI have never like in the last year seen so many leaders who have quit or want to quit, so I think some of what I went through [in the last few years] was preparing me for now.β
What re-oriented Christine, was realising once again the unchanging nature of Christ, and how sure He is as a foundation to build your life upon.
βIf Jesus is this hope we have as an anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19), where are we really anchored in this time?β Christine said. βItβs a time where we really have to check our anchor.β
βIf Jesus is this hope we have as an anchor for our soul, where are we really anchored in this time?β β activist, evangelist and author Christine Caine
One upside Christine sees in todayβs landscape β particularly where weβre βcancellingβ anyone deemed to have misstepped β is how it will deepen peopleβs understanding of forgiveness and mercy.
These are βthings that ultimately only God can give us, and sometimes it takes whatβs happening now for people to go, βOh my gosh, this is what mercy meansβ.β
Christineβs new book How Did I Get Here? is out now.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
About the Author: Laura is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.
Feature image: Supplied by HopeMedia