“The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.’” (2 Chronicles 15:1-7)

“Don’t be discouraged if you feel your faith in God is going unrewarded here on earth. The best rewards are not in this life but in the life to come.” – Zondervan, NIV Life Application Study Bible

This nugget of scripture ends with the significant verse, “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Much like the early kings, we too find ourselves walking around in a land of distress. What is wrong is right, and what is right is considered wrong. Society has managed to flip the basic ideas of right and wrong. But as for us, scripture tells us to “be strong and do not give up.” Not because we will see the instant fruits of our labor but because our faith assures us that a better, new, life is coming. In many ways it is “not safe to travel about” and share our Christian views. But we are encouraged by the history of God’s people. So today, stay firm, be strong and do not give up. Jesus is the way, and His way is coming.