In Our Times of Distress

     In our times of distress our faith can sometimes be shaken. The meaning of distress is extreme anxiety, sorrow or pain. I believe many people experienced distress during this pandemic when they saw their friends and loved ones die from covid. Many people prayed for their recovery but yet they still passed away. Many people out of their distress could have turned bitter and believed that God was not listening or even cared. They may even lost their faith and said that God does not really exist. Times of great distress can weaken or even break our faith in God.
     I personally believe that our times of great distress should draw us closer to God rather than to push us away from him. God has always promised us a better life in his kingdom and not in today's world. Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world in John18:36 "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." We will have to continue to endure the unfairness, cruelty and suffering of this world until we are standing in God's kingdom.
     Our hope is in God's love. The apostle Paul said this in Romans 8:35,38,39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
     Our future is with Jesus. John 10:27-29 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
     Jesus has power over death. John 11:25,26 "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" He said this to Martha before he raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.
     In our times of distress we can be shaken but not broken. We can put our lives in God's hands. If we or our loved ones do die we know Jesus Christ has the power to resurrect us. Our future hope is not in this world has it is now but in how God will someday remake it. During our time here we can always rely on God's strength to help us. Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."