This week has been heavy. We remembered September 11th. We’ve mourned lives lost. We’ve wrestled with anger, sadness, hope, and frustration all at once. And yet, in the middle of all of it, I’ve been reminded again and again that God is sovereign, Jesus is Lord, and our calling is clear: to stand resolved for Him.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and I want to pause here. If you’re struggling, please don’t suffer in silence. You matter more than you know. I’ve been there myself as a teenager—moments when I thought life wasn’t worth living. But God spared me, and by His grace, I’m still here. My friend Mike is still here. And you are still here. Satan is a liar who wants nothing more than to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus came to bring life—and that life is worth holding on to.

A Week of Wrestling

I had a sermon prepared this week—part two of last Sunday’s message on giving. But no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn’t land. After midnight last night, I finally surrendered: “God, if You want me to preach something else, then when I wake up, make it clear.” Sure enough, this morning, the Spirit redirected me to Hebrews 10.

My head and heart have been all over the place this week. I’ve felt anger at the brokenness of our nation, hope in the promise of revival, frustration at the hatred and division, and joy in celebrating the goodness of God. Maybe you’ve felt that too. But here’s what God reminded me: truth is under attack, and it always has been. From the serpent whispering to Eve, “Did God really say?” to today’s headlines, Satan has been distorting truth since the beginning.

But the good news is this: the light always outshines the darkness.

Following Jesus Will Cost Something

Jesus never promised comfort in this life. In fact, He promised the opposite: suffering, persecution, and hardship. Following Him costs something. The question is: are we willing to pay it?

Hebrews 10 reminds us of early believers who endured public reproach, imprisonment, confiscation of property, and persecution. They joyfully accepted it because they knew they had a better possession—a lasting one in Christ.

The writer warns: Don’t throw away your confidence. Don’t shrink back. Don’t quit now.

And that’s my reminder to the church today. Now is not the time to compromise truth for comfort. Now is not the time to hide in fear. Now is the time to stand resolved in Jesus Christ, no matter the cost.

Choosing Jesus Over the World

This world is not our home. Eternity is coming, and what we do here matters. Every person you meet has a soul. Every person will spend eternity somewhere. That’s why we can’t afford to wish ill on others, even those we disagree with. Hell is forever. No matter how much we may dislike someone’s choices or politics, they are still someone’s son, daughter, husband, or wife. They are a soul Christ died for.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord—not us. Our calling is to shine light, speak truth, and love people enough to point them to Jesus.

Two Questions for Us Today

As I close, let me leave you with two questions I’ve been wrestling with all week:

1. Are we willing to suffer for Jesus?

2. To what extent are we willing to go to reach others with the hope of Christ?

The answer we give will define the legacy of our faith.

Friends, this world is temporary. Heaven is eternal. Satan may try to wear us out, but the truth cannot be silenced. Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave once and for all. He is the answer—still today.

So let’s stand resolved. Let’s live like Jesus. Love like Jesus. Shine the light of Jesus. Because the world may be dark, but the light of Christ still shines—and the darkness cannot overcome it.