Believing the truth of the gospel of grace pours light into the darkness of fear and loneliness, gives hope to those crushed by sickness, and purpose to those in despair.
One young girl learnt songs about Jesus from a TV channel. She went to bed at night afraid that she was going to go to hell because she loved Jesus. She would beg God in her prayers to forgive her for loving Jesus, and in response, Jesus came to her, smiling, in her dreams. Her fears were swept away and she was overwhelmed with peace and joy.
An older woman, crippled with arthritis, called on the name of Jesus for healing and he graciously healed her! Another woman called out to Jesus for healing after years spent in hospital, and when Jesus healed her immediately and completely, she believed. Her parents and other family members also believed, unable to deny the miracle before them.
Jesus brings light
But for those who believe, who know that Jesus is trustworthy and know they are loved, life has purpose. And they long for those they love to also know freedom that comes through truth!
A generation is rising up that wants to throw off the confines of religion and live freely according to their own definition of what is good. Many say that they need to experience everything to honestly evaluate it, especially those things forbidden; less modest dress, drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality. One young woman said, “I keep trying everything and I think I will be happy, but I’m not happy.” We hear the same words of hopelessness and despair, people longing for death because they feel caught, stuck in the war, bound by rules they can’t control. But for those who believe, who know that Jesus is trustworthy and know they are loved, life has purpose. And they long for those they love to also know freedom that comes through truth! One woman had a dream of Jesus sitting on her bed, asking her to tell others of him; another dreamt of holding her friend’s hand and bringing her to Jesus. She is an evangelist, telling friend after friend the gospel!
Jesus brings light, healing and purpose, but wounded ones still cry out for healing; the battle is fierce in the unseen. Fear still shouts to new believers that they cannot tell others of their faith or they will die, and many stay silent for years believing the lie that they are alone. Doubt paralyses those who believe that suffering means that Jesus doesn’t care, or at least doesn’t care enough to intervene. Old sins rise up and entangle the weary. People are sinned against, abused, blamed, and try to make sense of why the wicked prosper. Ask for faith for each believer to remember that God has conquered; the wicked will be judged. God waits because he longs for their repentance. He pours light into fragile clay jars and holds healing hearts so that his children can declare the beauty of Jesus until he comes.