May 2024 Article

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Luke 12:22–25, ESV

We live in anxious times. This is clear as we see the divide in our nation and within our communities. It can be easy to focus on this, especially as we enter a season of confirmations and graduations. What sort of world are we leaving our children? In all the news of the difficulties we see in the world, it is good for us to look to the Word of God for hope. Jesus was calling his disciples away from worry to trust. The same is true for us. In the face of difficulty, let us trust in God and His control. Remember, God is in control, and God knows the struggles, but He is also at work. We are never left alone, and God prepares those whom He has chosen for the mission which He has for them. As Jesus sent out His disciples, the paths were already prepared for them, and God desires us to trust in His providence.

This reality is for all of us Christians, and it can be difficult to trust when faced with opposition, but in our times of distress, it is good for us to turn to Him in prayer and be in His Word. When struggles are faced, we are also called to be in repentance for the things that we have done that were not faithful to God’s calling. Faith is not blind. However, faith is based on the Word of God and the promises that God has given to us as His people. We can see the repeated example of God bringing salvation to His people as they cry out to Him, which was ultimately found in Christ our Lord. We know the promise is still there that our Lord Jesus Christ will return to bring full restoration to Creation. It is His mercy that remains with us as we await this time. We know that there will be struggles until that time comes, but God will carry us through these times, and the Word will not be stopped. A recent article in World Magazine gives a word of hope as they report that more people are coming out of other pagan practices into the faith of Christ. There is a hunger for the Truth, and we are called to be out there to reach out and receive those who are seeking something more. As we look to the world and seek to become greater lights in our communities, let us walk in hopefulness as we cling to the Word of God.