Yesterday, I talked about faith and used the analogy that we are soft clay in God’s hands, ready for him to mold us into tender-hearted people. Faith allows us to be full of compassion! It makes it possible to be soft to God’s word and will, and guess what? This is a great place to be! Can we unashamedly state that tough-minded faith always comes from tender-hearted people? We will ask the Lord to shape us in whatever way He wills because we trust that the future He can shape is better than any future we can shape. And that’s simply a better way to live! 

The opposite of this is living a life in fear. The Christian scholar and philosopher Dallas Willard put it eloquently when he said, ”Fear is the anticipation of evil.” This thought pattern says, “Don’t trust anybody” or “I think they’re gossiping about me.” Fear loves to label people by their politics, religion, skin color, zip code, or by the car they drive. These are all outward labels that we cannot dwell on. Let’s not worry, but rather seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. This is what faith is.

Friend, let us become and stay soft-hearted; tender-hearted. We can have the tough-minded faith that comes from tender-hearted people. You can be at peace with God and with your neighbor, and with your future. Yes, you can be at peace with your future! It’s very bright if you do it with Jesus.