Finding Hope In Jesus In A Troubled World
In a world that often feels overwhelming, where bad news seems to lurk around every corner, finding hope in Jesus can give you peace. You can’t turn on the television, scroll through social media, or open a newspaper without being confronted by the harsh realities of the evil in our world. My husband often jokes that I’m like an Ostrich with my head in the sand, avoiding all the bad news. But it’s not avoidance; it’s a choice. I choose to focus on the one who holds the world in His hands—Jesus Christ.
My Journey of Faith and Overcoming Inadequacy
It’s always a humbling experience when someone tells me they appreciate my courage in sharing God’s word and being an encouragement to others. Living in the country’s Bible Belt, it doesn’t feel unusual to say that I’m a Christian. I grew up going to church multiple times a week and attending “meetings” every night they were held. However, I wasn’t always comfortable sharing my faith, especially in person. Why, you ask?
For a long time, I felt inadequate because I couldn’t quote Bible verses on command, and I often got confused about who said what. I worried that I might say something wrong and unintentionally drive someone away from the Lord. Some love my Sunday posts, and others, not so much. I wrote an article about that called I Am Not Ashamed if you want to check that out.
While many of my readers identify as Christians, I know there are others who may have never heard the Gospel shared with them.
Understanding the Good News vs. Fire and Brimstone
As a child, I often heard “Fire and Brimstone” sermons that left me feeling scared and uncertain about my salvation. The preacher or pastor made it sound like it was impossible for someone like me to ever enter the gates of Heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Hearing that verse as a child made me almost cry. I didn’t hear the “who is rich” part because I was too focused on the camel trying to go through the eye of a needle. I remember thinking that it was impossible! Shoot, I can’t even put a slender piece of thread through the eye of a needle, so how would a camel ever be able to fit through it?
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I came to understand that passage, but it haunted me throughout my childhood. I never asked about the verse; it seemed cut and dry to me. I know that the Hell and Brimstone preachers meant well, but they focused so heavily on the damnation part that they forgot to share the GOOD news of the Gospel.
The Good News: Jesus Has Paid Our Debt
Yes, Hell is real, and there are consequences for not declaring that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. But there is good news, and we are not camels!
The Good News is that Jesus has come as God in the flesh. Through His death on the cross, He redeemed us and paid our debt. We are all sinners, and every person reading this has sinned and will continue to sin. The good news is that Jesus rose from the grave and interceded on our behalf, and we now have the assurance of salvation and the hope of eternal life.
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Accepting Jesus: The First Step on the Journey
I know some people are waiting to get themselves “right” or “together” before they ask Jesus into their hearts. That’s backward! The beauty of the Gospel is that it’s not about perfection; it’s about grace. He is the one who enables us through the Holy Spirit. Trust me, any good you see in me comes from the Lord.
As hard as I try, I will always fall short of the mark. My good works will never be enough, but I have an advocate who is interceding for me. Guess what? So do you. Jesus Christ is in Heaven right now, sitting at the right hand of God, and He is pleading our case. This is not a “get out of jail free” card. We still have to do our part, and accepting Jesus into our lives is the first step.
Take the First Step Towards Hope
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you’ve been waiting to get your life “together” before coming to Jesus, I encourage you to take that step today. He’s ready to meet you where you are, to walk with you, and to bring you the peace and purpose you’ve been searching for. The way may be hard, but the reward is GREAT.
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Let’s end with a prayer:
Lord, I pray for everyone reading this today. May they feel your love, grace, and presence in their lives. Give them the courage to invite you into their hearts and to walk with you daily. Amen.
Thank you for sharing Jesus Christ and His salvation on your platform!
Thank you for this!!! I am behind in my reading of your posts, but it came at the right time for me!! Please keep up Gods word!
I’m glad you liked the post and found it helpful!
Thank you for another blessed post. They are wonderful to read.
Just – thank you!
Thank you so much for this post. I was raised in church like you and heard the same “Hell and Brimstone” messages. As an adult, and through women’s Bible study groups, I began to understand the Bible much better. Your words explain perfectly what someone needs to do to become part of God’s family, a Christian.
I just cannot love this enough Tania. Thank you for being so real.
Thank you for this post and that each of your emails has a scripture…it’s hard to find that these days. It’s refreshing to follow someone who isn’t afraid to declare their faith!