If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. // John 15:19
I’ve been ending my days feeling pretty overwhelmed. I look back on my conversations, gathering all the things I’ve heard, and it’s a lot.
There’s so much bad news. I’m overwhelmed at how hurt I feel for people.
A friend’s new diagnosis.
A text about someone’s recent loss.
A family member has been really struggling, and I didn’t know.
There’s also tons of good news. I’m overwhelmed at how happy I feel for people.
They finally got the job.
She’s settling into her new home.
I RSVP’d for another wedding.
It’s totally exhausting, this constant up and down with so much to celebrate and so much to mourn. It’s a gift to catch up with the people I love, but I never know if I’m going to walk away celebrating or making room for heaviness in my heart.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that it’s just too much. I’d argue that there’s no reason to keep hoping, not when bad news keeps seeping out of the cracks.
But I do know better. Friend, I have really, really good news:
Jesus chose you out of this chaos (see John 15:19). Right now, He’s preparing you a seat in Heaven, one with your name on it, and it won’t waver or end; He promises this specifically, just a few verses (see John 14:1-7) before today’s Gospel.
There’s a reason why this world feels overwhelming, inadequate, and confusing: there’s so much more than this. There’s more than what you’re feeling. There’s more than the things happening to the people around you. There’s greater love to defeat these sufferings, and even greater joy to multiply these celebrations.
Maybe we’ve heard it before, but we need to hear it again and again. If today you’re sorting through a chaotic mix of good and bad news, let this be your reminder:
The Good News always wins.
Aubrey Major is an artist and designer living life joyfully in the Midwest. She has a new favorite color every week, loves laughing any chance she can get, and scrolls through Spotify playlists way more than any social media. She is passionate about loving the world through her creativity and designing unique things that help others see the goodness in their lives. Join her in making art and collecting inspiration here.
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