We each have a calling and a purpose in life. Discovering our gifts and learning how to use them well isn’t always quick or easy. Even after we recognize our potential, we still need to step out into the world and push through the darkness to make a real difference.
Jesus told His disciples, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” We don’t have to look far to see the evil around us. Satan constantly tries to pull us away from God, and the temptations never seem to stop. Just recently, my youngest son was almost fully healed from falling off his bike, only to slip and bump his head on the coffee table. Life often feels that way. We sin and get hurt, and just when we think we’ve recovered, we fall again.
When hardship strikes, we face a choice: give up or keep going. Two of Jesus’ apostles sinned against Him. Peter denied the one he claimed to love three times, and Judas betrayed Jesus by handing Him over to be captured and killed. But they responded to guilt in very different ways. Peter acknowledged his sin and repented. Judas, on the other hand, gave in to despair and took his own life. If he had turned back to Jesus, he could have found forgiveness. Instead, he refused grace and lost hope.
We share a mission to continue Jesus’ work and bring light into a dark world. That mission won’t always be easy; in fact, it will often be hard. But are we bright enough to shine in the darkness? Do we have the perseverance to keep going when things get tough? If we stay faithful and support one another, we can light up the world and lead many to eternal life.
