As the government shutdown continues, many families who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are bracing for the worst: their benefits are being paused. For millions of households across the country, this means no money for groceries next week—and no clear idea of when help will come again.

Here’s the thing: the church is not called to be a factory of platitudes. We are called to be a community of presence. A people of gritty, grounded, and grace-filled truth.