As the disciples were getting debriefed for their first trip out without Jesus, do you think they felt scared? After all, they were about to go out and 'drive out evil spirits and heal every disease and sickness' (verse 1). But Jesus was clear: the only fear they should have was of God. In the same breath as reminding them that they should fear God because he has the power the destroy both our body and our soul, Jesus slipped in something else that's as true for all of us today as it was for his disciples back then: God loves us.
This is all very well, but how do we get to that point of trusting God when life is overshadowed by grieving, by anger, by trials?
Perhaps the answer has been here all along: a closer relationship with God. It might not make for a cozy experience, because getting to know God means getting to know and revere all the aspects of his character, but knowing more about His incredible love for us can't be bad, can it? When we really know the truth about His holiness, righteousness and justice, we won't be paralyzed either by complete terror or by being off hand about our relationship with God.
Sure, we forget about it all the time, often finding ourselves getting stressed about the things we cannot change instead of looking up to the only One with the real power to change things in our lives. And for all of us, God's power to change might not mean nicer circumstances. But it will always mean helping us to learn how to trust in him more, whatever life throws at us.
That’s the message – and the power – of the cross.