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“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Our world has seen some horrible tragedies this year, from the terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom, to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, to the senseless killings going on in America’s streets.  Over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that when things go wrong, there are two kinds of people: those who panic and those who pray. I love what Corrie ten Boom used to say, “There’s no panic in heaven, only plans.” That means that even when we’re taken by surprise, God isn’t! But what does that mean for us? Well, the fact that bad things will happen in life is a foregone conclusion. It’s the reality of the world in which we live as one of the many consequences of sin. Yet even when those bad things do happen, we can choose how we will react. While many are fretting, not knowing how to cope with tragedy, God is still on the throne of the universe. And there’s absolutely nothing that happens outside of His divine purview. So we can either choose to go into panic mode, or we can look to Him in faith. Now, you’re probably thinking that’s easy to say but hard to do in the midst of chaos. And you’d be right, because trusting God is impossible in our flesh. But when we allow His Spirit to do the work, we become capable of experiencing His supernatural peace – a peace beyond understanding – even in the direst of situations. When tragedy strikes, look to the Spirit and trust your Father in heaven to find peace. He loves you and will never leave you alone! TRUST GOD IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY AND HE’LL GIVE YOU HIS SUPERNATURAL PEACE. Keep on Doing Right by Dr. Paul Chappell “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:7–10 It is said that when Henry Ford and his wife Clara were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary, a reporter covering the event asked Ford what the secret to a long and happy marriage was. Ford replied, “The formula is the same formula I have always used in making cars—just stick to one model!” The secret to success in any endeavor is not really a secret. It is simply to continue doing the right things. Whether it is a job, relationship, or ministry, a continued repetition of right leads to results. Most people in our day are looking for quick and easy solutions. Yet God’s plan is the slow, steady, patient repetition of right, rather than the immediate result. When the Children of Israel left Egypt, God laid out His plan to Moses for them to conquer the land of Canaan. “I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land” (Exodus 23:29–30). God could certainly have given them immediate victory over the entire land, but He knew that they needed the struggle to build their character. True progress takes place little by little, with continued investments of faithfulness. Many Christians think that the best way to show love to God is by creating a big, flashy display or undertaking a new, big project. In reality, the best way to show love to God is to faithfully keep His commandments.   Today’s Growth Principle:  Do right today. Do right again tomorrow. Faithful obedience honors God.