Walk Towards The Light

Dear Friends,

This week has been full of challenging and unexpected situations at our church; and the bad news is it’s only Wednesday. Fortunately, at the beginning of the week my Bible reading took me to John 14:1-3, which says: “Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” I have come back to that passage over and over this week, because it’s a great reminder that when we’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, one of the best things we can do is move our focus off of our challenging circumstances, and on to Jesus.

As children of God, we should be looking to the promise of a Savior to come and rescue us from this world. So, as we remember ALL that God’s already done for us, and all that He’s going to do - we can have peace in the midst of the storms of life. And that peace will help us persevere through whatever circumstances we're facing. It’s a resetting of our perspective, as we’re reminded that we know Who is carrying us through this journey we’re on - and we know where this journey is headed.

At the same time, as children of God, we know that our loving Father will use the difficulties we’re facing today for our good. He wants those very challenges to encourage us, not discourage us. James 1:2-3 puts it like this: “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy - for when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” Challenging and difficult times are not wasted in the life of a believer. Instead, God uses them to build our faith and shape us into the people He’s designed us to be. So when challenges come, we can persevere through them knowing that God will use them for our good.

What all of this helps us understand is that, when we face challenges, we should go beyond just keeping our eyes focused on the “light at the end of the tunnel”. And instead, we can actually smile at the “bumps” that come up as we travel towards that light, because those very “bumps” are opportunities for God to work in us. If we can keep that perspective through whatever issues we’re facing, we will have the foundation we need to weather any storm in life with a sense of peace and confidence.

So today, join me in holding on to those truths. Let’s look beyond our circumstances, and remember all God has promised us, so that we can stay faithful through any challenge that comes our way as God continues to shape us into the people He’s calling us to be.

Amen?

Daniel