by Lisa Grimes, Board Member
What a tough week it’s been. Our hearts are heavy. As the pandemic, economy, racial tensions, protests, and riots continue, the situation is grim. Just add a personal challenge or two and things can seem almost overwhelming. So many people are living in fear. Fear of the known and the unknown. This is the time for us to live in faith. To stand firm on the Truth.
Let’s pause to focus our eyes on Jesus and remember that even amid all the turmoil, God is in control. He’s not surprised by any of this. He’s not shaken. He is still on His throne. And He is the miracle-maker. We can trust Him. He is able to get us through these crises. All of them. It’s time to cry out to Him in earnest; that is something we all can do together.
Darkness is lurking over our land. We’re bombarded with messages – messages that are all too often distorted…to blind us, confuse us, tell us how we’re ‘supposed to’ think, further divide us.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing new here. Satan started doing that in the garden when he told a half-truth – otherwise known as a lie – to Eve.
As believers, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us so we have the ability to know truth. To live truth. We need to ask Him to show us the truth. Ask for His strength to live truth. And Jesus – the Truth – has the ability to set us free. If we will turn to Him, He has the ability to set our nation free from the tragedy and chaos we’re living in now.
While individually we might feel helpless, together we can unite and pray for truth to be revealed, in love – always in love. We can join together and pray:
- For God’s mercy.
- For His light to shine through us.
- For justice.
- For peace.
- For healing.
- For His transforming power – the same resurrection power that brought Him out of the grave – to do a work in our hearts and throughout our land.
He is able! Now more than ever we need to pray for revival. For healing of our country. We’re in a huge spiritual battle for America – and there’s only ONE solution: Jesus.
Loving Him starts in our hearts, then we can ask Him to spread His love to others through us. We’re told in 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV), “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
That passage has stuck with me this week. We’re to rejoice that He loves us enough to allow us to share in His sufferings so that we – that’s us – may be overjoyed when He is glorified.
Wow! Now that’s a change in perspective, isn’t it? I think we can all agree we likely haven’t been filled with joy this week.
We can start to find joy by looking for things to be grateful for. Now, like right now, in the midst of our struggles. A few suggestions to get started: thank Him for His intense and immense love for us. For His forgiveness of ALL we confess. For our salvation. For fellowship with other believers. We can also thank Him for His Word – the truth.
We can especially thank Him that we’re not home yet – the BEST is truly yet to come. And huge bonus: we get the best – heaven, our forever home – for all eternity! And according to Revelation 21:4, “…there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Amen!
In heaven, we will be healed. There will be peace and joy. In abundance. Forever. Let’s anticipate our final destination with hope, joy and peace. And in the meantime, keep our eyes focused on Him as our Leader and Guide to get us through these times.
“Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.” Psalm 37:37 (NLT) Let’s all join together and look to Jesus. There, together, we will find ALL we need.