By: Rex Stump
As I look around the world, all I see is pain and trouble. Recent news headlines include war in the middle east, political tension, increased violence, natural disasters, drug abuse, mental health challenges, child trafficking, and more!
All such things create distrust, despair, and discouragement. This naturally leads us to ask questions like; “Where is God? Does God care?”
I remind myself that these circumstances, and so many more, do not dictate God’s attributes. What happens to us, does not define who God is.
So often in our lives when something happens, we blame God or describe God being a certain way in relation to something that happened in our life.
God is just, holy, powerful, and full of truth. He is also love, full of mercy, and grace. He is sustainer, redeemer, dispenser of hope and peace to those who seek Him. Unfortunately, current calamities and world events rob the body of Christ and the world of peace and hope.
Fear, anxiety, and depression are tools of the enemy that keep us from victory. The enemy knows that God may have our heart, but he will still battle for our mind.
Scripture tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds! We are not to be anxious or worry about nothing but pray about everything. We are to set our minds on that which is godly!
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3
Stop and pray something like this, “Heavenly Father guard our eyes from looking at evil. Shield our ears from words, songs, and voices that detour us from you. Let us focus on you Lord. Let us see your victorious Spirit at work in our lives! Amen.”
Seek God and trust God…for our hope is eternal! Our hope is not in the things around us, but in the Holy Spirit that is in us. Our hope is not in people or politicians, but in the Spirit of God!
Our hope is not in mankind, but the Creator of mankind! Our hope is not money, jobs, sports, or material objects, our hope is in Jesus Christ!
We can trust God…because He is faithful. The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:19-24
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Isaiah 26:4,8; “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock… Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.”
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Rex Stump is the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as a Pastor at True North Church in Wauseon, Ohio.