In the passage above, Paul is comforting members of the church who have lost loved ones who were believing Christians. The overarching point Paul gives is that we should not be swayed by our circumstances but we should hold fast in our Lord and our God.

We are not to be like the world that has no hope. Those of the world only have wishing and the concept of luck that previous events are done, current issues will subside, that the future holds the answers to being happy and a better status than they have now. But Christians should not be controlled by their circumstances but should find joy in our trials as James tells us. He goes on to say "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6).

As followers of the Holy and Living God let us stop being like the world and talking about how big our trials are. We should, instead, be talking about how big our God is.

That hope is what Pastor Joh n Samuel Barnett talks about in today's Ministry Moment.