On Full Display

Something I realized about the world recently is how seriously broken it
is. I knew this before, but I didn’t have any profound personal experiences
to help me understand what that truly meant. I can recall times of sadness
and hopelessness during difficult circumstances in my life, but those
feelings passed fairly quickly. Now, I see that brokenness amplified; it
seems to be everywhere I look. Starting with the onset of COVID-19, the
world as I knew it, bright and full of possibility, slowly grew dark as
COVID-19 dimmed my optimistic perspective. Ironically, it was there in the
dark that I could see the world’s brokenness so clearly.

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I learned to live in that darkness, the tension of seeing the world’s
brokenness and being suddenly confronted with my own. In a way, COVID-19
has felt like a reality check. Beforehand, I was just minding my own
business, living my sweet little life. I felt alright, not like I was
seriously broken or weak. But when things changed and everyone was under
“lockdown,” it was so weird. The fact that we—as a nation, as the world, as
the human race—weren’t able to defeat this illness was terrifying. I didn’t
realize until then just how incapable, weak, and broken we really are at
the core.

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But that’s when I had to remember God. I had to remember that even though
the sickness going around is bad, He’s still good. He has compassion on His
creation, and He’s still working out His good purposes (Psalm 100:5). I had
to remember Jesus said that though we will have trouble, He has overcome
the world (John 16:33). Because God loves us, Jesus died and rose from the
grave for us, and we can look forward to the day He will return bodily to
earth and restore His creation. I had to remember that even though I am
weak, He is my strength (Psalm 28:7). And as I recall His Word, He’s using
it in my life daily, renewing my joy. • Emily Rondello

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• How have you seen brokenness on display, either in your own life or in
the world around you?

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• Especially when we’re confronted with pain and suffering, God invites us
to draw near to Him and receive His comfort. Why is it important for us to
take time with God, remembering the hope He gives us in the gospel? (If you
want to know more about the gospel, check out our “Know Jesus” page.)

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• If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 77 and follow its model by telling
God about the hard things you’re experiencing, and remembering who He is
and some of the things He has done.

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“I [Jesus] have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You
will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the
world.” John 16:33 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 1:3-2 Corinthians 1:11; John 16:33