Nothing is wasted

by Commissioner Heidi Bailey, Territorial Leader for Leader Development

Several years ago, Commissioner Brad and I had the opportunity to visit The Salvation Army’s work in Cuba and were honored to meet many remarkable people. Recently I was surprised to receive a postcard from a woman there, but I was even more surprised when I noticed Martha Garcia had written it on October 13, 2016! After four long years, this act of kindness finally arrived on my desk in Hoffman Estates—a completely different location than the original address.

Having passed the one-year mark of COVID-19, we thank God for the thousands of acts of kindness The Salvation Army has shared in our communities; like that postcard from Cuba, they have not been wasted. People have been lovingly served, and the gospel has been powerfully preached through your actions. Most importantly, God has been faithful.

Besides the physical virus, we have been affected by a pandemic of loss, grief and sorrow. Yet, in an unparalleled way, we thank God that our corporate heartbreak has united us. Hope also has been our constant companion because our hope is in the Lord, who is our help and shield.

In Kingdom building, visible results can take time, and we often can encounter detours. When we look back on the last year, we might feel so much was wasted. It’s good to be reminded there is light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel and no act of kindness carried out by God’s people is in vain because nothing is ever wasted by God—not even a four-year-old postcard.

“And so brothers of mine, stand firm! Let nothing move you as you busy yourselves in the Lord’s work. Be sure that nothing you do for him is ever lost or ever wasted.” I Corinthians 15:58 (Phillips)

Thank you for standing firm, for not growing weary and for leading with love when everything was shouting to quit. Your efforts have not been wasted. They never will be.