Sarah D. Shearer

Another day. Anther atrocity. 

I turn my eyes from broadcast news, wince as I look into the eyes of those who have lost loved ones. Again. 

In a different city. By a different person. With a similar evil in their heart. 

I can’t watch it anymore. I was not made to bear this kind of grief. We were not made to bear this load. 

How do we have joy in a time where sorrow would love to be our constant companion. 

I believe I am reading a series about World War 2 at a very timely hour. 

We are not the first generation to wake up with hearts sunken in as evil appears to triumph from sea to shining sea. 

This is life. This is the world we live in, without Christ. 

We can expect nothing less from those who hate God, those who blaspheme God, those who choose self day after hellish day. 

I do not watch the news because it does not help. 

I do this. 

I smile. I choose joy day after hellish day. I fill my lungs with hope and dream of the future, Even as I marvel at those who dared to hope amidst the horror of the holocaust.

What a privilege that we are alive in this hour. To share in Christ’s suffering, to feel a tiny prick of persecution. 

I refuse to speak curses over my country, this world. 

I refuse to live in fear, to remain at home, paralyzed. 

This is the day the lord has made. His joy is my strength. There is evil, but he has overcome the world. And even as the early church awaited with great expectation the coming of Christ our savior and redeemer we await him now, and take joy in the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

These are beautifully tragic days. These are days we get to choose Jesus. Days we get to wake up and know our security is found in him and him alone. 
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. – Anne Frank
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:1-12‬ ‭