This quotation acknowledges that we will face times of tribulation in this world, but it then immediately exhorts us to be of good cheer because the Lord is in charge and has overcome the things of this world. So realistically how can we be of good cheer? How can we not be completely stressed out as we are cooped up in our houses, watching the stock market plummet, and unable to have physical contact with other people?
There are tons of places offering advice, these ideas came out today from the CDC for dealing with stress and maintaining a healthy attitude:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
I think these could all be useful things to do, however, there is one more thing we could promise to do that would be perhaps the most important:
- “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word.” (Psalm 119:15-16)
The Lord’s Word is where He speaks to us, it is where He can convey to us reasons to trust in His Divine leading through whatever trials and tribulations we are facing. Regarding His Word, the Lord commanded Joshua to “meditate in it day and night,” and He gave the same advice in the Heavenly Doctrine when He tells us to “read the Word every day, one or two chapters.” (Joshua 1:9 & Apocalypse Explained 803:2)
So I would encourage you to take this opportunity to reconnect with the Lord in a deeper way through His Word, and set up a daily routine of reading it, meditating on it, and praying to the Lord to grant you trust in His Divine providence. In this way the Lord will be able to give you the inner peace He spoke about in the gospel of John when He said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
At General Church Education we have many resources to help you in the study of the Lord’s Word. Please explore the NewChurchVineyard website and feel free to contact us at gced@newchurch.org for additional options.
Sign up to receive notification when new highlights like this are published. Subscribe.