DEVASTATION 

California is on fire. Not here, but to our south. Not too far away, and familiar territory for many of us connected to Peace. The people in the greater LA area have hardly had any peace through the start of this year. With Santa Ana winds pushing fires further and faster than they often spread, and manpower and resources spread thin in the region, the devastation has been evident and extensive. 

A year ago, I was in my third round of chemo to treat my lymphoma. I wasn’t well. My stress was high and my energy was low. My parents visited, arriving on January 17. My father has his own issues, having dealt with leukemia for two years now. I had a fever the night before they left. I was happy to see them, and sorry to see them go. 

My nephew witnessed a hit-and-run accident in Anaheim in early 2024. A pedestrian was killed. He was there for a ministry conference that brought leaders from YoungLife together to worship and celebrate. But he didn’t feel much like celebrating. He wrote in a recent letter that he returned to the scene a few hours later and found himself saying “it’s not supposed to be this way” like a mantra, over and over again. 

It's not supposed to be this way. Yet we know there is truth in these words from Jesus to his disciples: 

John 16:33b – In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 

We do have tribulation. We face devastation. Whether it is a senseless loss, a burden in our health or someone we love, fire, flood, storm… There is loss. It’s not supposed to be this way. 

But we can find peace in Jesus (the first part of verse 33). We can cast our burdens on Him (1 Peter 5). We can claim the steadfast love and faithfulness of God (Lamentations 3:21-23), even in the midst of the trials we face.