Finding Peace in Troubling Times
Recent events have given us much to consider! Stress and worries and a look at the
future ahead with possible doubts are on our minds. We are thinking about how recent
events have taken us, in this greatest of all countries in which we live, with maybe the
best of all worlds in opportunities, to a shaken future with a possible house divided
against itself. There has been trouble brought to our homeland like we have never, in our
lifetimes, known before. There are also many of us that do not know what to do, plan or
foresee of what the future holds for what was recently the possibility of better times!
The Christians to whom the unknown conclusive writer of the Book of Hebrews was
writing were facing their own set of setbacks, including seeing their people possibly
thrown to the lions in arenas or seeing persecution rule their days with death and
hardships being a real possibility. But when we read the Book of Hebrews today, in these
troubled times, we can recognize then, the writer of this great book of the New Testament
offered Christians then and to us today, comfort, hope and encouragement in not only
the text, but in our steadfastness to Christ in these troubling times. We cannot allow
possible fear of the future and any haplessness about what may or may not happen, to
cause us to doubt the fact that "God is in control” and we have access to His divine help!
Even in a shaky and uncertain world, "HE is still in control”!
If any negative element in our nation has pulled away from Christ, even when those who
try to make, bend, or pass policy, considering themselves intellectual and experienced,
their thinking could become darkened. Then sooner than later, this ‘darkened thought
pattern,’ with its abstract thinking and actions, can become immoral, greedy, and violent
with injustice reaching monumental size and oppressing all those who need help the
most. There are many that are facing ultimate challenges to their way of life and those
around them.
The values of every Christian and those that wish to be, need to be fully involved in their
responsibilities. All Believers and those that are called on, are needed to be the salt of
substance, and bring light into our world each day! There are too often times that include
very difficult situations, where we tend to focus on our own wants and needs, in a
sometimes-vain attempt to keep our own worlds intact. But the love of God rarely shines
as bright as when we show it to others in the darkest times! Troubled times are one of
the very best times to minister and give testimony. We must never become separated
from one another or isolated in our Faith and search for the Truth!
Whether you’re overwhelmed by the possibilities of and the results of difficult times, the
‘whys’ of the loss of a loved one, the loss or furlough of a job, dealing with disease, the
‘coulda, shoulda or woulda’ of mistakes in your past or present, the flashbacks of your
life, the raising of your kids, the possible problems of your relationships or marriage,
dealing with the changes that have recently been brought about and the stresses of
living in a divided philosophical nation. These things allow actions that are many times
unbelievable or unexplainable. Please know that "one thing is always constant as is
found in John 16:33”!
We see and pass people every day, some we know and many we don’t, who are fearful, struggling
with questions regarding their future and that of their families and friends. Many of these people are
desperate for answers to questions about now and tomorrow, stability in their lives. They are hurting
and even lonely and most of all, they are searching for someone who really notices and cares! We
may not even be aware of the dark road they are traveling on. Sometimes we notice, intuitively, but
often not. We may be too busy with our own agenda, maybe preoccupied or even overwhelmed
ourselves. There are also days when ‘we might be these people’ ourselves, wishing someone would
notice, to take time with us, to care!
It is far too easy to just say, "God loves you and everything is going to be OK”! God does love us very
much, but there are things that happen that are not going to be OK. There are so many among us that
are grieving for many reasons, are anxious or insecure, and perhaps fighting their own private
conflicts regarding illness, betrayals, facing eviction or foreclosure, financial matters and hundreds
more reasons! The days for them could be very bleak and the nights very long. But yet, through all
reasons of despair…..’God is still in control and there is a great reason for hope’! He "promises to
never leave us” as is promised in Hebrews 13:5 and He can make something right out of wrong!
Allow Jesus Christ to be your comfort …and to ‘take every day as an opportunity to minister to the
comfort of others’ in these troubled times! YOU, as a Christian, can help so many know peace… !
It is by His Grace we are saved…by His Word we live…and by His Will we serve others…
