Remember the Light of Christ this Fall
I saw somewhere that yesterday, September 22nd, was the first day of fall. Pumpkins, apple picking, fall festivals, and Halloween are coming whether we are ready or not. I have had mixed feelings about the upcoming season transition. Back to school came and went in a total blur. I didn’t accomplish what I hoped I would during the kids’ summer break. And, instead of my usual joy at the thought of hot apple cider and cozy sweater season, I am a little worried.
Last winter was hard. I really struggled without sunlight, warmth, and time in nature. This fall I am more aware of my heart tendencies and bracing myself for what’s coming. I have a plan to escape to the south for one or two long weekends, spend time with friends, and take the right supplements to help. But in all of my physical efforts, I know one truth remains: the light of Christ can shine into the darkest parts of our hearts.
Social media post from Truth for Life ministries.
Earlier this month I shared a reel to my Instagram about the current headlines filling our facebook feeds and algorithms. Talk of impending doom from AI “super intelligence”, a looming market crash destroying the economy, and many local, violent crimes. (Yes, I should probably watch more funny cat videos to try and adjust my algorithm a little bit.) In all of these news reports and speculation, I had to remember the one who created all things and who the Bible says he is.
Consider Psalm 47 —
Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
Scripture assures us that there is no higher power than God. And what is God’s character? He is the God who would not leave us in the depth of our sin — so he sent Jesus to live, serve, suffer, die, and rise again. So that we could be restored to right standing with the Father.
The bible tells us God is:
Kind
Merciful
Gracious
Patient
Caring
Holy
Righteous
Loving
Sovereign
Faithful
Just
And many other wonderful things!
So what do we do with all of this?
We place our trust in the one who goes before us, behind us, and with us.
He is at work in the places we cannot see. Proverbs 21:1-2 reminds us that even the highest ruler’s heart is under the sovereign hand of God.
Proverbs 21: 1-2 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
I admit, headlines can be alarming. And while it can be tempting to tune everything out in an effort to protect our peace, we should remember that every generation has faced its own tragedies, fears, and uncertainties. Christians are needed in difficult times… to stand for justice, care for others, practice hospitality, and be a light to a hurting world. Completely disengaging, then, isn’t really the answer. The challenge is learning how to stay informed without allowing fear to take over.
What I want for my own heart is to remember that EVEN IF any terrifying event comes to pass, the Lord himself is with me. Christ has made a way for me, and that to live is Christ, to die is gain. We live this life out for his glory, and we look forward to the day we will be reunited with him in eternal glory. I want things to go well. I want to have a flourishing, full life. I hope my kids will be able to purchase houses, buy groceries and gas without worrying, and enjoy a fulfilling vocation… But even if they inherit a difficult economic climate or an artificial intelligence catastrophe… they will also know the one who is faithful to the end, who died for their sins, who loves them endlessly, and who will fulfill his promise to keep us to the end.
That is where our hope lies. That is the light in the darkness.
He is working when we cannot see it. He is faithful when we are not. He is working things out for his children.
We don’t need to bury our heads in the sand. We don’t need to panic buy toilet paper. We don’t need to chase down every reddit thread or conspiracy theory.
What should we do?
Love our neighbor. (Spouse, kids, local community, school, church)
Be kind. (Even to strangers)
Do the next right thing.
Live at peace with others.
Work hard unto the glory of God.
Share the gospel.
Worship, pray, fast, read scripture.
Confess sin, walk in grace.
Endure to the end.
So, fellow Christian, that is my prayer for us this fall. That as the darkness of winter closes in… and the darkness of our country and society continues on, place your ultimate hope in Christ.
To have Christ is to have everything.
Remember the light of our savior this fall, as we transition from one season to another. Remember his light as we encounter headlines, events, and speculation. His plan cannot be thwarted. He is on the throne.
Thanks for reading, talk soon.
-Sarah ☕️
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death has been such a comfort to my heart. As we bring our questions and fears to the Lord, this worship song stirs our affections back to the Lord who is our help, our rock, and our salvation. Give it a listen. 🖤
Going Further
Book Recommendation
🔗 Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
This book helped shape my understanding of God’s sovereignty from a biblical perspective. It does not shy away from the harder questions of faith, including how we understand God’s rule in the midst of suffering, hardship, and circumstances we would never choose. It helped me wrestle with those uncomfortable truths while learning to trust God’s character more deeply.
