Notes of Faith June 9, 2025

Missed getting this out on Monday. I spent my birthday at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, having a great meal and shopping at Buc-ees. It was a great day!

Tribulation

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

Matthew 24:21, NIV

The English word tribulation comes from the Latin term tribulum, which was a threshing sledge—boards with spikes pulled by an animal over sheaves of wheat to release the grain. It’s a vivid image of how we feel in times of trouble.

Jesus spoke of two different kinds of tribulation. In His sermon about the signs of the times, Jesus warned of “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). He was describing the coming Tribulation that will precede His Second Coming. But Jesus also spoke of the kind of tribulation everyone faces here and now. He said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Even in our darkest moments, God is still with us. His promises give us strength as we walk through overwhelming circumstances. What a blessing to know that His words hold firm even when we feel harrowed!

[Jesus] doesn’t deny that we have heavy issues to deal with. He simply offers to take all of our weighty matters onto His own shoulders and let us rest in Him.

Chris Tiegreen

I have yet to meet someone who had no issues/problems, tribulation as Jesus spoke. We have various trials, some small and bothersome, others much greater, even life threatening. But Jesus promises to be with us during and to carry us through to the other side of all of these into His glory! We must still deal with these matters of life. While dealing with them we may rest peacefully in His love and promises. Let us not be anxious, worried, not trusting in His wondrous love and perfect peace. He cares for us beyond our understanding.

Pastor Dale