Finding Hope in Jesus (25/1/2026)
Jon Searle shared with us today about finding hope when the world feels overwhelming. In a time when news of wars, conflicts, and suffering seems endless—from Iran to Ukraine, from global crises to personal struggles—it's easy to feel scared, helpless, or emotionally shut down. But Jon reminded us that Jesus brings something powerful into this reality: hope.
The Weight of the World
We're living in a world that feels heavy. Whether it's friends worried about family in war-torn Iran, the 4 million children living in poverty in the UK, or our own personal griefs and traumas, the overwhelm is real. When we watch the news, many of us feel the urge to just turn it off. That emotional shutdown is a form of self-protection—like callouses forming on a guitarist's fingers. Our hearts can become hardened and cold when we're faced with too much pain.
Jesus: The Suffering King
But here's the remarkable truth: Jesus isn't a distant ruler who can't relate to our suffering. His suffering is the very reason He sits on the throne. As Jon walked us through Philippians 2, Hebrews 1-2, and Revelation 5, we saw that Jesus went to the lowest place—the cross, the grave—which is why He now occupies the highest position. His coronation wasn't marked by pomp and celebration, but by a crown of thorns pressed into His head. The cross was His throne.
As the poet Edward Shillito wrote: "The other gods were strong, but thou wast weak. They rode, but thou didst stumble to a throne. But to our wounds, only God's wounds can speak, and not a God has wounds, but thou alone."
Birth Pains, Not Death Throes
Jesus warned His disciples that there would be wars, earthquakes, famines, and persecution. But He gave us a lens through which to filter all this chaos: creation is in labor. Paul describes in Romans 8 how all creation is groaning together in the pains of childbirth. These aren't death throes—they're birth pains pointing toward new life, beauty, and hope.
The wars, the famines, the tsunamis, the conflicts—God doesn't like them, but they signal that a new age of righteousness is being birthed. Jesus is coming back to bring a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
Our Ultimate Hope
This was the focus of the early church, and it needs to be ours too. As Peter writes in 2 Peter 3, we're waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Jesus will return not to take us away to some distant heaven, but to come down and make His home with His people. He will heal, transform, and reign in a world flooded with justice, peace, and love.
Strength in Weakness
In the meantime, how do we cope? Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 12 give us the answer: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." When we finally realise we can't cope with the overwhelm on our own—that's when we learn to harness God's power and strength in the midst of it all.
Reflection and Prayer
This week, consider this question: When you feel overwhelmed by the state of the world, where are you fixing your eyes?
Father, thank You that You have a plan and a purpose. Help us to filter the overwhelm of this world through the lens of Your bigger picture. Remind us that Jesus is coming back to bring a new age of righteousness. When we feel weak and overwhelmed, teach us to rest in Your strength. Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen.
Connect With Us
If you'd like to explore faith, find support, or simply connect with our community here at Redcar Baptist Church, we'd love to hear from you. Join us on Sunday mornings or get in touch!
