I remember hearing the word cancer from my doctor’s mouth and then everything around me fading out. The word hung in the air until my mind fully absorbed the fact that cancer and my name were in the same sentence. I was lost and confused. A time in my life that made no sense at all.
Seeing the tragedy unfold this past week in Las Vegas has those old emotions stirring up once again. Confusion, uneasiness, fear and numbness. How? And why? So many senseless deaths, so many injured and so many hurting families and friends. I could go on but the Holy Spirit stops me and brings to mind Philippians 4:8 on the importance of where we are to direct our thoughts.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Indeed, if our emotions and thoughts are not bridled by the word of God, they can easily become a fast moving train taking us to all the wrong places.
Instead, in response to all that has happened this week, we can direct our thoughts to Hebrews 6:9 which reminds us of the hope that we have as christians. Gospel hope that is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. It steadies our emotions, our thoughts and our feet when the world we are acquainted with suddenly crumbles and changes in a second. We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the One who is unchanging, constant and eternal.
Because of this hope, our souls find their way to safety in the midst of the storm. Our hearts are tethered tightly to the cross which assures us of the truth that Jesus has overcome the world, conquering sin and death. That we can look forward to a day when there will be no more tears and no more pain. We are merely pilgrims passing through this world to our eternal and perfect home that awaits us. Revelation 21:4
And by the Spirit's power, we can be women who think and stand in contrast to what unfolded this past week and not give into despair. Women who are ready to engage in a gospel conversation with a broken and hurting world that needs to hear the reason for the hope that we have. Jesus.
Let us think on that which is truly True, beloved.
Louise Moulton is a pastor's wife, mom, and nana to Haven & Kaiden. Her passion is to encourage and equip women to live for God's glory