Have you ever pondered how many hurting souls there are in the world? Have you ever thought about the multitudes of people suffering at this very moment? Regardless of geographic location, social status, financial situation or health, a sudden turn of events can destroy one’s security and cause anxiety, depression, defeat and even suicide. The wealthy can become destitute, the healthy can find themselves terminally ill, the death of a loved one can seem insurmountable and a life of abundance can turn into a battle with starvation in an instant.
For the impoverished, it can seem like there is no way out. Life can appear to be pointless, meaningless, unfair and downright cruel when the trillions of dollars circulating daily only travel in the same circles. Circles that are far away and will never intersect with the path of poverty.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29). And in the fifth chapter of Matthew, in the fourth verse, He states, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4).
These statements imply that true security can only be found in the eternal comfort that Jesus provides. When we turn our hearts toward heaven and fix our eyes upon Christ, we realize that the material world is not our permanent home. That is why Jesus implored his followers to build up treasures in heaven and not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
While it seems as though we are fighting physical battles, our true adversaries are spiritual. That is why it is crucial to put on the full spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17) so that we can see the enemy through the incorporeal lens that Jesus has mastery over. This requires faith because we seem helpless against the dark spiritual forces, principalities and powers of this fallen world.
Strength In Christ
But faith is paramount to our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), therefore our faith is central to our standing as Christians. So it is most important that through our faith, we recognize that the battle has already been won. Jesus reassures us in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
And in 1 John 4:4, the disciple wrote about evil spiritual entities, emphasizing, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Christians who are not strong in the Lord will struggle with spiritual battles and try to fight by their own power. In doing so, they are outmatched by Satan when faced with adversity as he plays on emotions, feelings and thoughts that undermine their faith.
Their weakness leads them to believe that God has forsaken them or that they fight their battles alone, but that is clearly not the case. Hebrews 13:5-6 reminds us, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
Psalm 46 1:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Our source of strength does not come from within ourselves. It comes from God. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” And he adds in verse 31, “If God is for us, who can stand against us?”
In the quiet moments when we call out to God, we can rest assured that Jesus advocates on our behalf. That even in our weak and sinful state, Christ intercedes for us. And if we have the name that is above all names as our counselor, then we can have confidence in our eternal destiny. Not only have we no need to fear the powers of hell, we also have no need to fear the judgement of God that would send us there apart from Christ. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:1).
Complete Salvation
Jesus not only saves us from our transgressions, He saves us from the wrath of God. Paul said in Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
In much the same way that God rested on the seventh day, and gave the Israelites the command to rest on the Sabbath, Jesus provides a Sabbath rest for those who believe. True followers of Christ rest from the work of trying to obey laws written by men and find repose in the shelter of His grace. The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter four that true believers enter this Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:3-11).
He goes on to say that Jesus understands our weaknesses and is able to sympathize because He was tempted in every way just as we are, therefore we can approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).
In Luke’s gospel, Jesus warns about the last days and the signs of the end of the age. “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36).
Ephesians 6:10 teaches us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Find strength in the Lord. When you are afraid and all seems lost, and your situation seems hopeless, lean upon the Lord and He will sustain you. When you are in the middle of a storm, focus upon Jesus and not the storm and He will strengthen you.
When Jesus walked on the water, Peter asked if he could come out to him. “Then Peter got down from the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out. ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:29-31).
In this life you will go through storms and have struggles, but do not be discouraged. The Lord will be with you every step of the way. Isaiah 43:2 reassures us with the words, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Psalm 23
And let’s not forget the renowned citation of the twenty-third Psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
In this Psalm we find everything it means to be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We find peace, protection, sustenance, eternal security, and love. Similarly, the apostle Paul affirms that as members of the body of Christ we have the assurance of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
We truly have reason to praise God! Philippians 4:4-7 explains it this way: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In Christ we find refuge for our body, mind and soul. Not some temporary, superficial retreat from our problems, but a permanent, penetrating and holistic sanctuary. As the words of the song so aptly convey, “In Christ alone, my hope is found.” Only Jesus can navigate our passage through troubled waters because He has gone before us and now stands on the other shore as a beacon for those who would follow Him. A lighthouse in the distance to guide us home, where we will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever!
