News Health: How to Keep Going

Happy Sunday,

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

Romans 8:18

A Reminder for the Weary.
On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. arrived in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers, but declined to speak.

He was tired. Not just from a day of travel—but from a decade of struggle.

For more than ten years, he had endured threats, arrests, bombings, and betrayal from people who claimed to be on his side. He had been stabbed at a book signing, had his home firebombed with his wife and baby inside, and was jailed nearly thirty times for leading peaceful protests. He faced angry mobs and police dogs, fire hoses and false accusations, and he watched friends and fellow activists be beaten, humiliated, and killed. And, there was no guarantee it was even working—in fact, progress was slow, and the Civil Rights Movement was fracturing.

When word spread that MLK wasn’t going to speak, the people refused to leave, so he changed clothes and stepped behind the pulpit. It would be his last time.

He spoke of the ongoing struggle for justice and of his hope in God’s timing. Then, near the end, his voice rose:

“I’ve been to the mountaintop… And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!

This was it—the secret to how he kept going. It wasn't mere optimism in the face of opposition, or self-generated courage in the face of fear. It was a resolute conviction to let "the glory of the coming of the Lord" guide how he felt and acted in the present.

The next day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. 

He lived his short 39 years on this earth with awe-inspiring courage because of his confidence that Heaven is coming. If you're weary or scared, focus on eternity. It changes everything.

What do you think?
Jason

Want to help fuel 365 days of Christ-centered news? Choosing to pay $49/year helps The Pour Over plan ahead, launch projects to promote spiritually healthy relationships with the news, and reach more people longing for an alternative to fear-driven headlines. It’s the best way to support our mission!

Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe here.