“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 5:8-11 NIV.

It’s easy to look at the world and feel overwhelmed by despair. There is so much suffering – close to home and on the other side of the planet. The location of injustice and pain doesn’t matter to your heart. It all hurts when you see it ravaging others.

Wickedness is running loose like a wild beast on the prowl as the darkness of evil appears to swallow up the bits of light that are scattered throughout the globe.

But evil will not win. Satan may have come to kill, steal, and destroy, but his time is limited.

There is hope on the horizon. Look up, precious soul. Don’t let the enemy of your soul convince you that hope is lost. Don’t fix your eyes on the darkness but remember the light in the darkness.

The light of Christ is here now. It’s in every believer. If ever there was a time to shine, it is now when darkness is lying to the world that it is stronger than light.

Shine your light, bold and precious soul! Shout praises to your King! Let your praises roar and shake the earth!

Remember, Satan is a liar. If he can’t destroy you, he will do all he can to paralyze you with fear or immobilize you with intense discouragement by overwhelming you with thoughts of hopelessness. Satan will try to convince you that things are spinning out of control and there’s nothing you can do about it. That’s a lie.

GOD is in control, and you can pray. Your prayers are powerful. Never forget that.

Satan will try to steal your peace and your focus by piling things on – one negative thought after another, one failure after another, one struggle after another – until things feel so heavy you want to give up.

Don’t you dare give up! Don’t give in to the darkness and the lie, the absurdity that hope is lost. Darkness is temporary, it won’t last – not for those who claim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Jesus rose on the third day. He left the darkness of the grave behind. Darkness could not contain Him. It could not hold Him down. It could not defeat Him.

It won’t hold you down or defeat you either.

And one day, precious soul, you’re going to break out, break free, and leave this darkness behind.

Wait on God. He’s sending Jesus back for you. He’s going to rescue you and restore you. Don’t lose hope. Hold onto your faith and keep believing that your Heavenly Father is totally trustworthy and loves you infinitely more than you know.

And pray for those who can’t see past the darkness, those who are surrounded by it. Reach out to them. Love them. Introduce them to Jesus Christ – the One who came to save us all.

And watch and see how God gathers His children together and lifts them up for the greatest rescue of all time.