The Weekly Peace : April 11, 2025
The Birth of Hope...
We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us.
Letter of Paul to the Church in Rome 5:3-5
Life is hard right now. In Jacksonville, we are seeing immigrant children no longer going to school because their families are afraid of being deported. Food assistance programs for kids on or below the poverty line are being cut. Once public-school ends for the summer, we are not sure how many of the children in Jacksonville are going to have enough to eat. Our local police officers have been given monetary incentives of up to one thousand dollars to arrest immigrants.
Where is the hope? What is happening to our country? Do we no longer care for the child, for the stranger in our midst? How can we follow Jesus in a time where everyone seems to be turning their backs on the most basic teachings of the gospel?
The apostle Paul suffered a lot. From the moment he saw light and hear the voice of Jesus, everything changed for him. Paul set out on a life-long journey that would take him to jail, would get him beaten and leave him lonely and often afraid. And yet, Paul writes that he rejoiced in his sufferings. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But Paul was grateful for the struggle because it forced him to hope in the impossible. It literally strengthened his faith.
What does it mean to believe in the resurrection life if we are never tested in that belief? It is one thing to worship God when you have enough food and life is comfortable. It is another thing entirely to give God thanks when bombs are falling, and children are dying. But when our lives fail to bring about easy answers, that is when we finally admit we need help. That is when hope is ignited, and we can learn to trust in God who has a plan so much larger than anything that we can comprehend.
Throughout the centuries, the church has grown faithful and true when it has suffered persecution. When Christians were killed for their faith, the church exploded across the Roman Empire. Maybe this pain is the beginning of a birthing process. Maybe there will be a Christianity born the likes of which we haven’t seen since the early days after Jesus walked this earth.
I am trying to believe in the One who can make all things new.
Every picture tells a story…
Each morning, Kate Moorehead Carroll delivers a short Morning Devotions on YouTube. If you would like these devotions emailed to you, subscribe by clicking this sign-up link. Below are this week’s devotion offerings, enjoy!
Peace out…
Kate Moorehead Carroll is the author of eight books: Vital Signs of Faith: Finding Health in Your Spiritual Life, Angels of the Bible: Finding Grace, Beauty and Meaning, I Witness: Living Inside the Stories of Advent & Christmas, Healed: How Mary Magdalene Was Made Well, Resurrecting Easter: Meditations for the Great 50 Days, Get Over Yourself, God's Here: A Forty-Day Journey of Repentance, Organic God: Lenten Mediations on the Words of Jesus, and Between Two Worlds: Daily Readings for Advent. All books are available for purchase at the St. John’s Cathedral Bookstore and Gift Shop or via www.katemooreheadcarroll.com.
