For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional

A guide for ordinary Christians seeking to live faithfully in extraordinary times

"This is not the first end of the world. Many worlds have ended."

In an era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism, many Christians find themselves disoriented, wondering how their faith should inform myriad daily decisions. Drawing upon both scholarship and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval.

For Such a Time as This provides a thoughtful framework for discernment rooted in scripture, historical wisdom, and the core commitments of Christian faith. Through meditations on scripture, reflections on historical precedents including the Confessing Church's resistance to Nazi Germany, and portraits of inspiring figures who maintained their integrity in the face of oppression, Reichel guides readers toward their own Christian response to the present moment.

Written specifically for ordinary believers, this accessible volume acknowledges that while some are called to dramatic public witness, all must face the daily challenge of living faithfully as long-established institutions and systems reveal their fragility. Neither alarmist nor complacent, Reichel reminds readers that Christians throughout history have faced the collapse of worlds they once took for granted--and have discovered unexpected liberation in the process.

For anyone troubled by current political trends and searching for ways to disentangle faith in God from misplaced trust in political systems, For Such a Time as This offers both challenge and comfort. Readers will come away with practical wisdom for navigating our uncertain times, a deeper understanding of Christianity's resources for resistance, and renewed energy for the urgent tasks that faithful discipleship demands today.

"None of this is unprecedented; what is unprecedented is that today it is we who have to do the hard work of seeing idols smashed, grieving and picking up the pieces, holding them into the sun, and seeing new refractions of light in their edges."

Hanna Reichel is Charles Hodge Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Raised an ecumenical Lutheran, Reichel serves as a ruling elder in the PC(USA) and on the Theology Working Group of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Their work has won academic honors including the Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise and the Ernst Wolf Award; it has also been featured in public outlets such as The Atlantic, the Presbyterian Foundation's Leading Theologically, CTI's Theology Matters, and Tripp Fuller's Homebrewed Christianity.