Recently, I took a trip to visit my daughter in Washington DC. Stress and sickness had gotten the best of her again and it was time for a visit from mom. Life in the big city is not for the faint of heart. Adulting as a single young woman in today’s world takes its toll mentally, physically, and spiritually.  Yes, she has friends to roam around the nation’s capital with and for that I’m grateful. But more than that, she’s found a fantastic church. This is truly an answer to my many prayers.

The metro dropped us in an area of DC called Shaw, and it hardly seemed to be the neighborhood to be sporting your Sunday best. I held my purse closer and kept pace with my city girl. As we turned the corner, I could see a large group of smiling folks whose faces radiated joy as they stood outside Passion Church at the Howard Theater. Like warm sunshine in a cold place, the greeters welcomed us and ushered us into our theater seats. The church was filled with young people from all over the Metro DC area and each carried their own story of how they got there. But the most important thing was, they were there and God was meeting them.

The music began, the praises went up and so did hands of all colors- black, white, tan, worshipping together in unity, as one body in Christ. It was a glorious sight. My thoughts went to news stories of our dark, divided world at that moment, yet there was complete peace and solidarity as believers from all backgrounds worshipped our Holy God.

We sang “Christ be magnified” a powerful worship song about magnifying Christ at the altar of our lives.

The Holy Spirit was overwhelmingly present in this place and my eyes welled up at the beauty of it all. I thanked the Lord for the work that He was doing in this neighborhood through this church. But I also rejoiced that He had led my daughter to be part of a thriving body of believers in what could be an otherwise harsh and unwelcoming city.  Christ be magnified in me, from the altar of my life, Christ be magnified. Shouldn’t this be the cry of our hearts every day?  That no matter where we are, our lives reflect Jesus to the people around us. If people were to look at how we lived and what we pursued, Christ would be seen at the altar of our lives as the One we worshipped.

The pastor preached from Galatians and shared that the law (Old Testament) was our tutor, our signpost to lead us to Christ. Faith in Jesus and faith alone is enough. Jesus plus nothing equals everything. Whew, I love that. He went on to say that some of you are working very hard to earn your place in life, to please your parents, to live up to that big degree, and to succeed by worldly standards. But what a relief that we can come to Jesus in faith and it’s enough. God isn’t looking at the number of likes on our posts or the number of degrees we hold.

Galatians 3:3 says, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

I thought about how this relates to our spiritual walk (earning salvation through good works) and everyday lives. How often do we try to measure up to the flashy façade of the world’s standards? The big city is shiny and we want to shine too. The problem is, too often we want to radiate our greatness, but God’s word says “Let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me.” May that be said of me and my life.

The pressures of living in a big city can be daunting. I see it firsthand as I watch my daughter navigate through it. Pursuing Christ and career isn’t impossible, but putting career before Christ will lead to a life that does not magnify Him, and will only point to our accomplishments.  I’m so grateful that God is making a way for Chloe. He hears my many prayers for her and is protecting her. He always has His remnant, His people in every corner of the globe to shine like stars in the universe in a dark and depraved world. It’s no different in DC. His church is there and so are His people. Christ be magnified in your people. What a gift to be part of that church service and see firsthand what the Lord is doing in this city. It was a tiny snapshot of what Heaven will be like. Believers from every tongue, tribe, and nation praising God together. What a sight that will be and I can’t wait to experience it.

Our mother/daughter weekend was a lovely time of refreshment. Not only did we take in the sights and engage in some of the culture and history this vibrant city has to offer, but we parted ways with rejuvenated hearts and strengthened souls. I flew home with a bit more peace of mind knowing that my daughter was right where she was supposed to be. Though the pressures of life are real, she can be a vessel in her appointed place, in this designated time, where Christ is magnified through her. (Written May 2023)