It sure seems that each day’s news cycle has increasingly become just a catalog of tribulations … or troubles, afflictions, hardships.
From natural disasters, to murders, to civil conflicts, to economic worries, to societal strife, and beyond; the world offers us a daily – almost continuous – reminder of its darkness and brokenness.
Headlines feed our anxieties and stir up our fears, leaving us uncertain and wondering where we can find solid ground.
As Christians, we might feel guilty for these feelings, as if our fears reveal a lack of faith. But our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has a promise for us.
"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b ESV)
In other words, Jesus did not promise us a life of ease, comfort, health, and wealth. Instead, He promised us the opposite: that we will have turmoil. Jesus did not promise to spare us entirely from life’s hardships, but He also followed this promise with some of the most comforting words imaginable: "Take heart; I have overcome the world."
This is the great paradox of Christian living.
As we live amidst a world where we are surrounded with chaos, mayhem, and pure evil, we can still have God’s perfect peace. His peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the certain knowledge that Jesus Christ has already won the final victory through His death and resurrection.
All other things that cause us uncertainty and despair in this world do not have the final say. Christ does.
The devil and the world want to wear us down with constant noise and fear. They want us to believe that our security lies in things that we can see, hear, touch, and control. But God has given us a different source of certainty … a certainty that can never be overcome.
In Baptism, God marks His children with the sign of His cross and exchanges Christ's righteousness and victory for our guilt and shame. Our identity is not based on the stability of the world; it’s based on the unshakable promise of God's love for us.
When you are tempted to despair as the headlines bombard you with terrible news, remember that the same God who overcame sin, death, and the devil lives in all baptized Christians through His Holy Spirit. That means that He is present with you, especially in the midst of your greatest tribulations.
So, turn off the noise and listen to His voice instead. He has not left you, nor will He forsake you.
Take comfort that you are not asked to fight for your own salvation; Jesus Christ has already fought and won that for you. Take heart. Trust in your Lord and Savior. He has truly overcome every enemy and has therefore secured your peace in Him.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(Published on the Devotional Page of the Alpine Avalanche Newspaper on Thurs, October 9, 2025)
Comments