…for tomorrow will care for itself…” (Matthew 6:34).
Phyllis Beveridge Nissila
It seems as if whenever evil attacks it establishes as many “fronts” as it can get away with as fast as it can.
There is no opportunist, individual or collective, like an evil opportunist, and these days, the battleground is global.
On every inch of the bandwidth of bedlam, so to speak, whether the trouble is political, psychological, mental, emotional, spiritual, and, of course, wherever boots can be “planted on necks” (or ALL of the above, which seems to be the case just now) it can make one dizzy not only with the nature of the multiple crises but also how to respond, prepare, and/or pray.
And besides all that, consider the discouragement that can take its toll, too, with such a multi-pronged onslaught, aided and abetted by certain world “leaders”. And they know it, too, discouragement, aka hopelessness and despair, being one of (their) Dear Leader Marx’s favorite frontline sins against humanity.
Know what I mean?
There are, of course, a lot of folks with stuff to sell you to aid survival. But this can add another layer of concern particularly for most people who are also battling a budget war, too, brought on by all the others.
Aye-yi-yi.
Sigh.
Fortunately…Jesus.
JESUS OUR HOPE AND PROVISION
So when my attention was drawn to the verse atop this post in the series, not only did it smooth my wrinkled brow (and a a few scrunched-up nerves) it also reminded me Who is really in charge (as in God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and, conversely, who is our real enemy (as in he who has only one tri-part goal–“steal, kill, and destroy,” as in John 10:10, looting and burning whatever he, et al, can along the way, for good–er, bad–measure.
(Aside: I don’t think “irony” is in the lexicon of evil; if it were, those who practice it would realize that if annihilation is the goal, whence the spoils?)
Like a sudden breeze on a hot day to refresh, a sleeping baby on the shoulder to soothe, the genius of a symphony to inspire, my mind and spirit were beckoned upward to regard Him “through Whom all things were made” (even hope and provision)–fear to waylay, grief to assuage, man to regenerate–by His body and blood, peace paid…
Jesus, Who knows well the nature of the many-fronted enemy of which I write also knows, I think, we need more than the average encouragement during times such as this. So He gave us the perspective noted in the opening verse (take it one day at a time, take encouragement at will) and of a more practical bent, the verse right before it:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. ( v. 33)
(Just one of many benefits of knowing Jesus, our best–and everlasting–“constant,”see previous post).
Have you, too, turned to Him in faith and in prayer in this mess?
If not, I invite you to join billions over time who have, are now, and will, take Him at His Word:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)
Ironically, as history attests, all the more so as evil opportunists ply their destructive trade.
P.S. What He also said:
~~~~~
pnissila 
