How are you doing these days? Some are facing challenges around employment – Many companies are requiring mandatory vaccination or weekly testing. Other folks are struggling with emotional stress from the loss of loved ones to months of isolation. And political division on steroids has caused rifts in families and the public square. Men, families and businesses are struggling.

What in the world is going on? The world is going on, being the world – a world of political extremes, bias media, confusion in churches, divisions in family and fractures in what heretofore have been societal norms. Covid is the ‘catch-all’ providing the reason for the state we are in. But these are simply the daily reminders that we indeed live in a fallen world.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Christ, … and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us. – Romans 5:1-5. The peace with God does not suggest that all is going to go wonderfully well. Peace as a translation of the most expressive sense of ‘shalom’ means, “the positive state of rightness and well-being in the midst of battle.” The battles, or tribulations in life are to be faced with the positive state of rightness and well-being. As one perseveres, the positive state pushes through what may have previously been anger and develops the proven character that Paul refers to. The proven character is the maturing of the new creature a man becomes in Christ. And the spiritually mature man is empowered to navigate through this world in the hope that is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He maintains an eternal perspective in the midst of worldly struggles.

The tribulation was watching a dear friend struggle with health issues. His friend suffered over ten years with a debilitating disease that he eventually succumbed to. Watching him persevere in the midst of that battle with such a peace, brought out the proven character that he had known for years but in this present state, became very visible. As his friend spoke of the hope eternal through his relationship with Jesus the Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, it was obvious the disease had no power over him. What a testimony his friend was to maintaining an eternal perspective in the midst of a worldly struggle. He was convicted to live a better testimony himself where the Lord had him.

Prayer guide: Lord, I thank You for Your Word and the eternal perspective You provide. I confess that I have allowed this day’s tribulations to distract, discourage and even turn my eyes from You. Forgive me. Grant me strength to persevere through the challenges I face and develop the proven character You expect me to have. Help me walk in the hope that is Your love poured into me through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. May I glorify You as I maintain an eternal perspective in the midst of worldly struggles That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad the next generation needs to see. Amen.

A faithful father maintains an eternal perspective in the midst of worldly struggles.