A Word of Comfort for Troubling Times

The future is in God’s hands. Though sometimes, it takes a bit of trouble and uncertainty for us to realize it. When we try to wrestle control of the future with our plans and schemes, we forget our limitations. We forget that we are dust and to dust we shall return (Genesis 3:19). We forget that we can’t predict what will happen five minutes from now let alone five years from now. And so it happens that fits of despair and helplessness overtake our minds and spirits when a virus shuts everything down or when societal chaos trues to topple the old institutions of family and government. We think maybe our faith isn’t strong enough for this. We think maybe Christianity wasn’t meant for a world this lost in chaos. Maybe our faith hasn’t been keeping up with all the changes enough to survive.

The Lord knows our troubles better than we know them ourselves. Not only does he see the worldly causes, fear of the virus and the radical ideologies of the mob, he fully comprehends the spiritual forces that stand behind them. He knows that the devil and his demons desire the current despair and unrest to drive souls from the church, the Gospel, faith, and Christ. He knows that the devil has already seduced the hearts of men to lay blame for both the virus’ proliferation and cultural disorder at the feet of Christians and their Gospel. He knows that, before the end, Christians will suffer the demon inspired fear of the world.

Dear saints, don’t be afraid. Don’t be worried. The Gospel was meant to be preached under duress. Jesus instituted his church for times such as these. Your faith is meant to bear up under demonic attack and prevail. Jesus said, “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).

Remember that when Peter and John were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, to keep from stirring up trouble among the people, the church prayed to the Lord in thanksgiving. Can you imagine? In thanksgiving! How dim our faith has become for this to take us by surprise! Read Acts 4 and see how their thanksgiving was founded on promise of Psalm 2, that the world and its leaders would rage and plot against the Lord and his Christ. They remembered that the Lord and his Christ, who sits at the right hand of divine majesty, laughs at the best the demons and the world’s princes throw at the church. Therefore, they prayed for boldness: “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your Word with all boldness” (Acts 4:29). Indeed. The Lord blessed them and granted the Word to continue its work of subduing demonic strongholds and rending men’s hardened hearts in contrition and faith to this day. The gates of hell have not nor will they overcome Christians’ faithful confession of the Lord’s saving name (Matthew 16:18).

Take heart. You don’t know what the next day will bring, but your Redeemer knows. Before your birth, the Lord knew the times and the troubles you’d have to live through. “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). The Lord remembers your affliction and wanderings through this godless world. That’s why he gives you comfort for your body and soul that the world in its rage cannot touch. “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of man.”

God’s “abundance of steadfast love” has been revealed in the sacrificial death of his Son. It’s is given to you in the tangible Word of Baptism (Mark 16:16) and the Supper of Jesus’ body and blood (Matthew 26:28). These means of grace bless you with the Lord’s crucified compassion. In them you obtain the treasures purchase and won by Christ’s death.

You obtain salvation. You obtain pardon for your offenses. You obtain the Father’s unconditional mercy.

Trusting in Jesus’ promise both preached and bound to the elements of the sacraments, you discover the depths to which your Lord is willing to go to rescue you from every evil power of the devil and your flesh. What a sublime mystery that God would give himself into death to reconcile his enemies. But that’s what he did in the person of Christ. And now that same Christ is raised and ascended. His voice resounds in heaven’s courts. He has the Father’s ear and he speaks kindly of you. “Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of god, who is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

Jesus has saved you from sin and death. As he rose from the grave, so too will you rise to live in the joy of his presence forever. The nations and kings may plot. The devil and the demons may lie in wait to devour. But who are they to us? “He who did not spare his Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32)?

The Lord grant his peace and strengthen your faith, dear saints.

-Pr. Flamme