When Tears Turn To Triumph!
You don’t have to look hard to see things in this world that will leave you in tears.
Images of the terrorist attack in Israel, of innocent people viciously tortured and slaughtered are seared into our brains.
The resounding approval of a ballot measure enshrining the right to abortion in Ohio’s constitution leaves our hearts breaking for the babies that will never be born.
Lately I’ve been overwhelmed by the headlines, by the horror of it all. I’m hurting and frustrated, ready to throw up my hands and concede defeat.
We can all relate to that feeling inundated, overwhelmed, and defeated by life’s challenges and injustices.
Stay in the battle!
Yesterday, I sat down, humbled myself at the feet of the Almighty, and played the worship song “Mighty God” on repeat.
And I realized that I needed to throw my hands up—not to give up, but to surrender it all to God.
As I reflected, it dawned on me—I was wrestling with an enemy already defeated. It’s an enemy that seeks to rob, steal, and destroy the invaluable work we are doing to advance the Kingdom, strengthen Christian businesses, and transform cities across the nation.
When I stopped focusing on what was going wrong and fixed my eyes on God, I was reminded of Hebrews 11:6. To gain a deeper understanding, I revisited the entire chapter of Hebrews 11, where example after example illustrated the incredible power of faith and the character of our Almighty God.
- Enoch’s Translation, where he walked with God and was taken without experiencing death.
- Noah’s dedication to building the Ark, which saved his family.
- Sarah’s faith in conceiving Isaac, despite her old age.
- The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites.
- The inspiring fall of Jericho’s walls.
These stories serve as powerful reminders of who God is—mighty, compassionate, and ever-faithful. Our God is bigger than any obstacle, whether it be technology, war, pandemics, hurricanes, elections, financial challenges, or life’s adversities. By surrendering our giants to God, we affirm our trust and belief in Him.
Through surrender, we are essentially saying, “God, I trust you wholeheartedly.” And when you place God firmly on the throne of your life, you’ll experience his rewards, as Hebrews attests: “He rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NLT)
For me, the reward was freedom
The freedom of relinquishing control and entrusting God to navigate the storms.
In Matthew, we are reminded that we “are the salt of the earth.” We are called to be agents of positive change, moral influence, and transformation in the world.
To be salty means to live out our faith in a way that enriches the lives of others and testifies to the transformative power of Christ’s teachings and love. His ways are higher than our ways, and we are simply called to be salty.
Let’s magnify God and not our circumstances.
Next time we’re feeling overwhelmed by the evil in the world, instead of shedding tears of frustration, let’s be thankful that we are still salty!
