Dear church,
 
The great truth of life is none of us get to choose what is going to happen to us for the rest of our lives here on earth, yet we do get to choose how we respond to what life brings to us. We could face the future expecting the worst and experiencing the worst.  Or we could live in light of eternity, fully being aware that God has equipped us to live here on earth. The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:3, that every believer has access to God’s ^“divine power” which gives us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 
 
So, God has armed each of us with His ‘divine arsenal’ to face the future strong, fearless and with gratitude, generosity, and graciousness to live for God’s glory.  What speaks to my heart is the promise that God has given us not something, but EVERYTHING OR ALL THINGS TO LIVE GODLY LIVES.  It may be hard for some of us who are struggling in life to believe in this truth. But remember God has already given us everything we need for godly lives – and godly lives are never defined by the absence of struggles but by the presence of God in the midst of our struggles. 

Remember the promise in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”.  Peter also reminds us that this assurance is realized ‘through our knowledge of God’. This points us towards Jesus Christ, for, without Christ, we can do nothing, but we can do all things through Christ who equips us with His divine power.
 
Be Encouraged,
Mathews