My family's happy place is the beach. I wish we could be there now. But like the rest of the world, we are on lockdown. I was thinking the other day about one particular windy day at the beach when I decided to take a dip in the ocean despite the especially strong waves. The waves were relentless, and kept hitting me one after the other. No matter how firmly I planted my feet in the sandy ocean floor, the waves were too much and knocked me over. That's how I've felt lately with the state of our world. Wave after of wave has hit me and threatened to take me under. Waves of doubt. Waves of fear. Waves of anxiety. Waves of financial pressure. Waves of questions. Waves of sleeplessness. But unlike that sand under my feet that gave way and let me fall, I know I have a firmer foundation to stand on in this life. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33)" This song, "Take Heart" was written in the middle of one of those waves and it brought me a little peace. May it do the same for you. -- Matthew West
