The Good and the Gospel

"Don't give up, just keep the faith. Soon you'll be walking in your season."

Today I was struck by an article I read. The news is important, and we want to live in a world where we are aware. However, the truth is a heavy weight-- a worthy one but heavy nonetheless. As I was struggling through the details of a hateful, dark crime explained in an article, I realized the moments of studying that distracted me from all this are gone. The news and the events in the world have always been valuable to me, but now I am able to reflect on them. 

Sometimes that reflection is painful. It's a dark, spinning world. People are broken. Christians are being persecuted and murdered. Hate is being born of love and the dissension is tearing souls apart. Satan is casting his shadow on our hungry hearts, and the weakness of our flesh is becoming more present than ever. Often it takes a lot of courage just to read these horrors on a computer screen.


Imagine living them out. Imagine your reality being a constant smog of hopelessness. Imagine fearing the world you step out into. Imagine life as a prison and not ruled by freedom.

The news, and disturbing stories like the one I read today remind me: what I merely imagine is someone else's reality and could be my own. There is evil in the world. What turns inside my own heart is often evil. There are violent clouds with strong arms trying to strangle the sun. Yet, I remember one thing the most.
Clouds pass.

As chasers of light, how can we live amongst the clouds? I don't know, I think that's part of life-- being content that you will always be figuring. When I feel that Satan is puffing out his chest in this world-- I take measures to remind myself that he may look tall, but my God is taller.

Music is a way that I remember the good.
Music is the anthem of hope. It is a consistent reminder that the hardest, most bitter of words can heal when set to song. Music reminds me the right thing is worth fighting for. Music is God's reminder that we are not alone.


Marvin Sapp, one of my favorite gospel artists, released a song called "Live". As I began listening to it, it was a sweet reminder of what God did at creation-- he spoke and life happened. In the midst of the darkness, we are called to live. Music is a way to celebrate that life that was given.


"BY
FAITH
YOU
SHALL
LIVE"


"Shouts of joy and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
 I will not die but live,
    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The Lord has chastened me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation."
Psalms 118: 15-21