Help with big problems

Not too long ago, the President did something bad and got in trouble. Lots of grownups were worried that it was "the end of the world" -- that our country wouldn't have a good person to run it.

Problems like that can seem like the end of the world. But in this week's Gospel (Luke 21:5-19), Jesus talks about us how to tell the real end of the world is coming someday -- and promises that even when we feel like the world is ending, He's watching over us.

Jesus heard people talking about how beautiful their temple was. He told them, "Someday, it will be torn down." "When?" they asked. "When the end of the world is coming," Jesus said, "when there will be wars, earthquakes, sickness and starving people everywhere. Some of you will even be arrested for believing in me. But don't worry -- I'll be there to take care of you."

At the real end of the world, though, all those things will happen at the same time. Jesus said people might even get in trouble for believing in God!

When a problem is as big and scary as wondering who our President will be or having a war, it can feel like God is far away. All people worry about is the problem.

But in the Gospel story, Jesus was reminding us that He'll always be there for us: If the President's in trouble, if a big storm hurts our towns, if people don't have enough to eat, God's watching over them in a special way.

Big problems happen. But Jesus gave us a list of what will happen at the real end of the world someday -- so even if a problem feels like the end of the world, if it's not happening at the same time as everything else Jesus told us about, the world will be okay!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me trust that you're taking care of the world -- even its BIG problems! Amen.

(11-12-98)

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