Thought for the Week - 18th June 2023

Dear Friends, 

I’m sure like me you will have been amazed at the survival story of the four children who were found safe and well after spending 40 days in the Colombian jungle following a plane crash that killed their mother and two pilots. The BBC reported that ‘army radios crackled into life with the message the nation had been praying for: “Miracle, miracle, miracle, miracle.”’ The children, 13, nine, four and one, had fought against all the odds for six weeks and had endured the elements and often deadly terrain to survive and Colombia’s president called it ‘an example of total survival which will remain in history.’ In his book Soul Fuel, the adventurer Bear Grylls reminds us that struggles develop strength, and that Jesus never offers a trouble-free life. But what he does promise to all who follow is peace and confidence, help and rescue. When he promised the Holy Spirit to his disciples he said, ‘I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will. Because I live, you also will live’ (John 14:18-19). May Jesus’ promises here be a reminder that we are never alone in our struggles in life.

Grace and peace,

Neil

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