With the world in such a tumultuous state, I suppose one could say this is when your faith can be and is severely tested. For some, tragic events and nightmarish acts might make you question the existence of the God we profess to believe in. I sometimes have to remind myself that most of the hell I’ve been through is a direct result of the choices I’ve made. I believe that some of those choices were because God was never a part of my decision-making process. From that point of view, a Christian one, it appears that most of today’s tension in the world should be interpreted from looking at it in terms of radical religious behavior in the name of one God or another. News media tend to ignore this and report conflicts around oil, land, political power, and, yes, even money. But, to me, many of those who die are killed by someone of another faith or no faith at all. That and sanctimonious justification. People can claim anything in the name of God. However, the God whom Christians serve points us in another direction and, therefore, dictates a different course of action.
Jesus taught peace, love, and understanding, regardless of how trite that might sound to you. As contrived as you think that is, the Man was killed living a very public life predicated on love for fellow human beings and intolerance of institutionalized persecution, particularly church-sanctioned discrimination. We all know the source of His strength in the midst of what He faced. My question to you is, what is your source of strength in the midst of what you face daily in this world? That is not a rhetorical question. I find myself in prayer, asking God to give me wisdom to learn from whatever I’m going through, good or bad. It doesn’t matter. Likewise, I’m also asking for wisdom to understand the insanity going on in the world in which we live. The result is always the same. I’m led to put it all in the Lord’s hands. His divine will supersedes my secular understanding, which is as it should be. I do think, however, that many times, men have forced these issues and situations upon themselves and others for the same reasons that I still find myself going through an occasional about with hell. It’s because God is not embedded in the decision-making process. When you do put God in the process, however, peace (as in peace of mind) prevails because the outcome is known. I win based on my faith and acceptance of Jesus as Lord. The world could stand some rigorous training in this truth right about now. In the end, the outcome is already known. God wins, and those who believe in Him are the only true victors.
May God bless and keep you always.