Take heart!

Are things weighing you down? Is the news overwhelming? The cool, wet weather causing you to fear for your future? Things are out of control and it seems like there is no bright spot peeking through the darkness. It is times like this that you can be glad that you are a Christian, a child of the Triune God, a member of the family of God. You have a God and Father who has promised to care for you under every circumstance, and there is no exception to His promise. His faithfulness is sure.
Your heavenly Father has claimed you through the waters of Holy Baptism.  He has sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to take on human flesh so that He could take on all of the powers of this world that are out to destroy the things of God. Jesus has defeated them all by facing them head-on. He defeated sin by facing every temptation and refusing to give into it. He lived a perfect and holy life. He defeated the devil one-on-one and also through every under-handed trick and deception. Jesus trusted in the Word of His Father that promised Him victory. Jesus also defeated death by giving Himself in sacrifice on the cross and then rising from the dead on the third day. The power of God revealed itself to be all-powerful. This power of God shields and protects us as God’s children from all of the evil powers of this world.
The facts are in. The victory is won and it belongs to all who have been baptized and believe the Word of God. So why am I afraid of these things that weigh heavy on my mind and heart? The answer is you are still a sinful human being. Your sins have been forgiven in Christ, but your flesh (and mind) struggles to accept this as a gift from God. You still want to claim some control and merit where there is none. We don’t like to admit that we are helpless and totally dependent upon God because He might change His mind and we would be left out without any way of getting back in.
These are unfounded fears planted by our sinful flesh and the Devil still trying to snatch us away from God. Every word of the Bible shows us that God is faithful and will never change from what He has promised. God’s people have always been sinful and weak since the fall of Adam and Eve. But God has never given up on anyone that has shown the least bit of faith in Him. He is always present with His beloved, and where He is present so is all of His power to save.
So when fears seem over-whelming, talk with your heavenly Father or your Savior, Jesus Christ. They will remind you that they are in control of everything and it will work out for your good. They have their reasons for allowing difficult times to enter your life. Sometimes they humble us and remind us of who is and needs to be in charge. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how great God is in His love and mercy toward us. But whatever God’s reasons may be, they will always be for our good and the good of those around us.
Jesus faced all of the hardship that this world had to throw at Him. He stood firm and faithful against all of them. He did this for our benefit and the benefit of all who would believe and be saved. He told His disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
Whatever your troubles, trust in the Lord and He will lead you through to the light, for He is the Light of the world.  His love will always be with you, in Jesus Christ.