God calls on us to have courage despite the darkness that surrounds us in the world. Peace can be found by observing God’s accomplishments amid the storms. There is a silver lining in everything dark. By focusing on God and remembering His great works, we can see that God is the commander of every storm, every trouble that stirs doubt and fear within us.
Something good came out of the COVID years in respect to attending church services. While we were not able to attend them, using the computer to stay connected to churches across the nation did allow me to seek God by a different means. This dangerous health time caused me to alter my thoughts and change my behaviors so that Christ could more closely come into my heart. Christian philosophies from different denominations were made available to me, and I could “touch the body of Christ” and ponder His story in a more vivid way. This knowledge drew me closer to understanding my Lutheran background, but it also allowed me to see other points of view.
It is so easy to return to the old ways of going to church on a Sunday morning, but having gone through an “on-line service” has made me more aware that courage is developed through community and doubts about God are dissipated through fellowship with others in a church. A church service allows for the sharing of Christ’s spirit among fellow worshipers, and it makes stronger Christ’s remark, “Where there are two or three of you gathered in my name, there I am.”
God did not promise us that everything in life would be without pain or trouble. What He did say is that our life would be a dangerous endeavor. No matter what kinds of trouble befall us, when we trust in God, all things are possible, including lessons about how to deal with those troubles. There will be false prophets promising all kinds of things, but only God has the power to change all things for good.
Seeking God’s truth in everything we do is how we live fearless in a world filled with darkness. Our ultimate victory is through being still in the face of trouble and being patient so He can do His miracles. God has promised that His Word will never pass away despite how the world tries to destroy our faith in Him. Our biggest responsibility is to make sure our faith stays strong.
God has the answers to all our questions, and those answers will fulfill us until the end of time. We are all guaranteed troubles and storms, but what really matters is how we respond to them. If we have faith the size of a mustard seed, if we read His Word and seek understanding of it, if we pray daily to Him, and if we rely on Him for direction in our lives, all things are possible with Him. From the “on-line time” until now, I know that God is closer to me when my heart, soul, mind, and body are in His presence in a church where His spirit lives. To be disconnected to Him for even a moment just doesn’t work for me.
Anna Hartt
