Our world is broken. It doesn't take a genius to see that. So often we ignore the grief and sadness in our world. Innocent black men are shot by those sworn to protect them. Peaceful protests turn violent. Men dressed as clowns terrorize us in our back yards and in our schools. Massive storms destroy nations. Bombs continue to be dropped on innocent Syrians. Racial profiling and hate speech are tolerated even today. Six year olds are being shot to death while attending school. A criminal and a racist take the stage in debates and U.S. citizens are expected to pick which is less awful. Sexual assailants continue to go free with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. One fourth of college students struggle with mental illness.

All of these things can seem overwhelming. Where is the light? Where is the joy? The hope? How are we expected to stay optimistic about the state of the world improving. We see our brothers and sisters dying in the streets, in their homes, in schools, and we are expected to continue going to work and class like nothing happened. Let's take a moment to acknowledge that this should not happen. Death, destruction, despair, and demolition are not a part of the plan.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:1 & 31

This place we call home was created perfect. Nothing was wrong in our world. There was no sin, no pain, no hurt, no death. But sin entered in, took hold and has not let go to this day. Because of sin in our world, racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and natural disasters strike at God's people, who he created and loves. How do we overcome all of this? It's overwhelming!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

We cannot be expected to have all the answers. We only need to have one answer to this sin: Jesus. He takes away our pain, our sorrow, our worry and our fear. When you read that list of horrible things happening, you most likely feel out of control. That is because you are, in fact, without control. The only one with control is God, and God alone. Sometimes it can be scary to let go of a situation. However, in the face of so much evil, what other choice to we have besides turning to our creator? He made us because he loves us. If God did not love us, we would not exist at all.

With the knowledge that you were created for a purpose and that God will create all things new again, like in the first creation, take heart. We will not be overcome by the world, for Jesus Christ has overcome it already.