How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ (Is 52:7)
These are what I’m going to refer to as mounting days. Because mounted up on significant trials of life is a global pandemic.
People are suffering from stress mounted upon stress. Like the stress that comes from a serious diagnosis, being added to the stress of living in the face of a deadly virus. Or raging fires . . . hurricane-upon-hurricane . . . riots in the streets . . . fatal injustices. They do not cease, nor slow, when another calamity strikes.
Life’s grievous struggles have not halted because a pandemic struck. They are piled onto it.
This fallen world is merciless. And precious souls are straining under mounting stress—stress-upon-stress, stress-upon-stress.
When someone you know receives one more bit of bad news, it helps to be prepared with an encouraging reply. Not something trite or rehearsed. Not cliché or unmerciful. But a comfort from the Lord. A reason for your hope. Truth they can hold on to.
Especially now—in these mounting days when people are gasping for courage.
In times of quiet before the Lord, He equips us with a reply. A word of our hope . . . our peace . . . our joy in the Lord. (Yes, even in mounting days.)
Ask Him to provide just such a ready reply.
The gospel is God’s gift to the world, for our courage and peace in this world. It is that good news every heart needs—for wrapped in its gift is the real beauty of hope and perseverance in the midst of cruel suffering.
As God has blessed us with a comforting, strengthening word, we can bless others.
We have a gift to share with the world. We can bless them with news of hope and purest love.
Christmas contains the message of the miraculous grace of heaven that came to earth to free us from all that threatens our peace with God. It’s a message that God has come to restore our dignity lost and offers us hope for our future. And strength for our hard days.
That Christ our Lord has come to save, He is with us as we walk through suffering, and helps us endure mounting stress; that He has made a way for us to have hope beyond today, is some really terrific news to soothe the stress within.
In the midst of harsh, empirical oppression, there was still a silent night—with angels proclaiming the good news of God. They shared it with those in need.
So can we.
Or maybe you are that one in need. I say to you: remember—and keep remembering. Remember, present grace has come. He came proclaiming peace, good tidings, and salvation. He reigns, sovereign. And He has promised to redeem all things. Your Savior—ever faithful, good, and true—can be trusted in every mounting day.
#Hope #GoodNews #BeABlessingOfEncouragement #PreparedAtChristmas