JESUS is the Answer

Over the weekend, I participated in a conference, called If: Lead. I heard from many speakers who had amazing things to say, and I would like to share a little bit with you today.

What we are all going through right now is something none of us have ever experienced. Many of us are feeling some sort of way we can’t explain. There is anxiety we feel that is difficult to put a finger on. For me, it is dealing with the unknown, which is challenging to deal with directly, because it’s UNKNOWN!

Dr. Anita Phillips explained, many of us are actually experiencing trauma through this pandemic. We are dealing with racial tensions, financial tensions, and so much uncertainty. Our nervous systems are activated in all of this and pulls on our bodies. There is fear, there is panic, there is pain. It’s not only causing emotional problems, but it’s also causing physical problems like fatigue, digestive problems, breathing problems, a racing heart, and more. So, we must make sure to take care of ourselves physically as well as spiritually and emotionally.

One thing not unknown, is Jesus. Like I always remind you… He is the same today, as He was yesterday, and will be tomorrow.

Jesus came to this earth and took on flesh so He could completely feel and understand everything we go through. He knows how we feel, and He cares. Hebrews 4:15 says, “This High Priest (Jesus) of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Jesus experienced all that we do, yet He kept His eyes on Heaven. He did what He came to do, and we must do the same. Each one of us has an assignment on earth, and we must not allow what’s happening to derail our progress. We must take care of ourselves in every way. We must acknowledge what we are going through, recognize any pain, deal with it, then move on toward the goal.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Katherine Wolf reminded us that suffering is not the end of our story. There is life beyond this pandemic and every other struggle in our present lives. Acknowledge that good things and hard things can coexist. It doesn’t have to be just one or the other. If you are going through something hard, you don’t only have to sit in that “hardness.” You can acknowledge there is good to hold on to as well.

Katherine profoundly stated, “We can be part of disrupting the deep “idol” ( we tend to worship) that says for life to have any joy, it must be entirely free of any kind of pain whatsoever at any time.”

We know in this life (and especially with the help of the media), some really horrible things happen, but Psalm 84:11 says, the Lord withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly.

Good and hard coexist.

Sir Richard Baker said, the good things of God are chiefly peace of conscience and the joy in the Holy Spirit, the fruition of God's presence in this life, and the assurance of seeing His face in the next. We can be sure that He will never withhold these things from those who walk with Him.

What’s the common denominator in the lives of those who seem to walk gracefully with hard on one side and good on the other?

Jesus.

He is the answer for the world today.