Holding onto ‘Okay’
This Great Idea stems from Rev. Roger Wolsey’s essay, Drinking the Cup We’d Rather Not, reposted by Rev. Michael Piazza in his September 29, 2025, Liberating Word post. I read this post the Monday after spending a day with nearly 300 ISAIAH clergy from across MN, hearing from Minister JaNaé Bates, numerous interfaith leaders, Senator Tina Smith, and Governor Walz.
It is powerful to be in community and communication with a larger body of people who are actively engaged and committed to shaping a more sustainable and just future – a future more aligned with God’s vision and hopes for us all.
Rev. Roger Wolsey shares the story of Methodist founder, John Wesley’s evangelism visit to the English colony of Georgia which was a, ‘complete and utter failure’. A ‘horrific storm’ during the return trip caused ‘everyone [to think] they were going down for sure’. A group of Moravian Christians from Germany, however, did not fret. Instead, they ‘held hands and sang hymns’.
Wolsey cites Paul’s discussion of faith with the Athenians and Romans, and quotes Julian of Norwich’s famous, ‘All is well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’
Recognizing that these may feel trite or glib under our current circumstances, Wolsey asserts that, ‘We all need to hear someone say, “It’s going to be okay.”…’
This is where prophetic preaching can play a huge role in maintaining peoples’ hope, our mental health, our sense of community and solidarity and belonging and commitment: when we hear that there is reason to hope, that things will be okay, we can let go some of our anxiety – which is deeply restorative to soul and body.
BUT, Wolsey reminds us:
‘…And it IS (sic) going to be okay – but not in a cheap way.’
Here is where congregational action and organizing and talks about personal and communal agency are so important and helpful: glib promises of ‘everything will be okay’ feel empty because they are empty without grounding in reality.
What truly alleviates anxiety and fear is doing something, being engaged in the work necessary to build the future we know God desires for us and this planet.
Wolsey follows the promise, ‘It IS going to be okay – but not in a cheap way.’ with the following list:
- It’s going to be okay if we commit to love and support each other.
- It is going to be okay if we promise to organize.
- It is going to be okay if we pledge to be there for each other if they come for any of us – if they come for the socialists; the trade unionists; the Catholics; the Muslims; the progressives; the intellectuals; the scientists, the transgender, gays, bisexual, or lesbians; the immigrants; the atheists, the differently-abled; those currently under Obamacare; the women; or those receiving governmental assistance.
- It is going to be okay – if we step up, show up, and struggle in solidarity.
ISAIAH is doing amazing work at pooling congregations, equipping leaders and communities to become a network of rapid response teams, and generally showing up and standing with one another in love and support.
Learn more about how you and your community can engage with ISAIAH here.
If all of this feels overwhelming or scary or brand new to you and/or your people, join our four-part panel series: Church. Organize. Neighbor. Love. and leave empowered and equipped by denominational leaders offering theological, doctrinal, spiritual, and pragmatic support; church-adjacent leaders offering examples of community organizing in progress; community leaders introducing opportunities for partnerships and collaboration; and clergy whose congregations are committed to broad community engagement and solidarity. Learn more here.
