Finding Hope In Jesus In A Troubled World
In a world that often feels overwhelming, where bad news seems to lurk around every corner, finding hope in Jesus can give you peace. You can’t turn on the television, scroll through social media, or open a newspaper without being confronted by the harsh realities of the evil in our world. My husband often jokes that I’m like an Ostrich with my head in the sand, avoiding all the bad news. But it’s not avoidance; it’s a choice. I choose to focus on the one who holds the world in His hands—Jesus Christ.
My Journey of Faith and Overcoming Inadequacy
It’s always a humbling experience when someone tells me they appreciate my courage in sharing God’s word and being an encouragement to others. Living in the country’s Bible Belt, it doesn’t feel unusual to say that I’m a Christian. I grew up going to church multiple times a week and attending “meetings” every night they were held. However, I wasn’t always comfortable sharing my faith, especially in person. Why, you ask?
For a long time, I felt inadequate because I couldn’t quote Bible verses on command, and I often got confused about who said what. I worried that I might say something wrong and unintentionally drive someone away from the Lord. Some love my Sunday posts, and others, not so much. I wrote an article about that called I Am Not Ashamed if you want to check that out.
While many of my readers identify as Christians, I know there are others who may have never heard the Gospel shared with them.
Understanding the Good News vs. Fire and Brimstone
As a child, I often heard “Fire and Brimstone” sermons that left me feeling scared and uncertain about my salvation. The preacher or pastor made it sound like it was impossible for someone like me to ever enter the gates of Heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Hearing that verse as a child made me almost cry. I didn’t hear the “who is rich” part because I was too focused on the camel trying to go through the eye of a needle. I remember thinking that it was impossible! Shoot, I can’t even put a slender piece of thread through the eye of a needle, so how would a camel ever be able to fit through it?
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I came to understand that passage, but it haunted me throughout my childhood. I never asked about the verse; it seemed cut and dry to me. I know that the Hell and Brimstone preachers meant well, but they focused so heavily on the damnation part that they forgot to share the GOOD news of the Gospel.
The Good News: Jesus Has Paid Our Debt
Yes, Hell is real, and there are consequences for not declaring that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. But there is good news, and we are not camels!
The Good News is that Jesus has come as God in the flesh. Through His death on the cross, He redeemed us and paid our debt. We are all sinners, and every person reading this has sinned and will continue to sin. The good news is that Jesus rose from the grave and interceded on our behalf, and we now have the assurance of salvation and the hope of eternal life.
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Accepting Jesus: The First Step on the Journey
I know some people are waiting to get themselves “right” or “together” before they ask Jesus into their hearts. That’s backward! The beauty of the Gospel is that it’s not about perfection; it’s about grace. He is the one who enables us through the Holy Spirit. Trust me, any good you see in me comes from the Lord.
As hard as I try, I will always fall short of the mark. My good works will never be enough, but I have an advocate who is interceding for me. Guess what? So do you. Jesus Christ is in Heaven right now, sitting at the right hand of God, and He is pleading our case. This is not a “get out of jail free” card. We still have to do our part, and accepting Jesus into our lives is the first step.
Take the First Step Towards Hope
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you’ve been waiting to get your life “together” before coming to Jesus, I encourage you to take that step today. He’s ready to meet you where you are, to walk with you, and to bring you the peace and purpose you’ve been searching for. The way may be hard, but the reward is GREAT.
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Let’s end with a prayer:
Lord, I pray for everyone reading this today. May they feel your love, grace, and presence in their lives. Give them the courage to invite you into their hearts and to walk with you daily. Amen.
Thank you for sharing the way to make the Lord your savior. I hope that many people receive Jesus, as a result of your devotional. God bless you all!
So glad you wrote this, yes, I felt the same way as a child about the story with the camel, and fire and brimstone ministers that scared me half to death. So thankful for our Jesus! Amen!
Thank you for sharing the Good News. I am thankful everyday for God’s grace and his mercy. I can confidently say that He loves me and will never leave me. And that we are saved by grace and not by works. I no longer live under condemnation but under “grace.” My abba father is a good God and a loving father. Have a blessed week and know that you are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved.
Daryl Ann, I copied “you are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved,” and I’m putting that where I can read it daily. Thanks so much for the reminder!
I loved reading this. I am a Christian and profess my faith openly. I at first would hesitate, and as you mentioned, I worried about messing up facts and felt inadequate in reciting Bible versus. I don’t exactly know why, but this evening I felt very irritable and reading your blog put everything in perspective. Thank you!
Beautifully written!! I love your Sunday messages!!
Beautifully written!! I love your Sunday devotions!!
I thank you for the Sunday messages. God has given you the gift of understanding His word and helping us to apply it to our everyday life. I read your email before we head to church and lot’s of times your “ service “ hits home better.
Thank you for sharing your faith! Your Sunday posts are so inspiring! I followed you on Pinterest trying to figure out how to dress age appropriate after 50. I never expected that your faith would be my reason for enjoying your posts most! I’ve had a difficult year with my own faith & leaving my church & you have helped me more than you know. You are a blessing to your readers! I love that you ended it this time with a prayer!
Tamatha, I am so happy to think I might have helped you in some way. I realize that it really wasn’t me, it was the Lord using me to reach you.
Thank you for this great message. Many think they need to be better to receive God’s gift. We don’t have to earn it. It’s a gift. Everyone reading this, please invite Him into your heart now. You will never regret it. He will make any changes needed. Bless you for sharing this great news!
I always look forward to your Sunday lesson. Thanks!