Wanna stress yourself out? Watch the news. Read the headlines. Click the link. If you’re looking for evidence that the world has lost its mind, you don’t have to look far. For the one who reads his or her Bible, reports of chaos come as no surprise. In Matthew 24:6-7, Jesus predicts hard times – “wars and rumors of wars…famines and earthquakes…the beginning of birth pains” as the world longs to be restored to God’s original design.

Those signs aren’t limited to the physical world. They’re also rampant in the hearts of men. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:2-4)

One could easily become disheartened except that as believers in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, we know “the rest of the story!” I often write using references from Revelation and other Scriptures that remind us of the Day when Father God will step into history and make all things Eden-new and right and good. Those are things He’s promised, and we can have peace as we trust in His words. As the world currently spirals, He offers glimpses of what that Day will be like and slivers of light to give us hope and perseverance in the waiting.

A friend of mine serves in an organization that radiates the beauty of God’s promises. The reach of this organization is international. Its members are multi-ethnic and speak many different languages. A variety of skin tones peppers the room when they all come together. And in that space, every difference bows low in humility to the unity they find in their love for the Lord and their passion to share the good news of His saving grace.

The stories of the individuals gathered represent nations at war, ethnicities bent on genocide, murderous ideologies, and every other evil and depravity of man. But these men and women, while living “in” their worlds, are not “of” those worlds. They’ve long since pledged themselves as ambassadors for Christ first and foremost. They can sit across from  what the world would call their “enemies” and share a meal under the umbrella of their commonalities as brothers and sisters in Christ.

United in their mission to make Jesus Christ and His message of reconciliation to God the Father known, there are no national, ethnic or ideological barriers among them.

And there it is – a sliver of light – the hope of God slipping into the darkness of the days we live in. Breathe, my friends. The Kingdom draws nearer with each passing day, and all who love the King will be drawn together as His family. Wars, the groaning of creation, the idolatry of self, evil in every form, love of pleasure over love of God – your Father will soon step in for the most epic rescue from these things!

By all means, stay up to date on current events. Be educated. But don’t be dismayed or discouraged. Jesus Himself promised troubled times in this world, but He also promised relief. “‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’” (John 16:33)

Look for God’s slivers of light – they’re there. And they’re there to encourage you to persevere to the end. Just as the members of my friend’s organization are unified in sharing God’s good news of salvation, make it your heart’s work to share the hope you have in Christ with anyone who will hear it. And one day, your eyes will behold and join John in this beautiful scene…

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Revelation 7:9-10)