In the last days, the city in which I live, Cali, Colombia, is going through difficult times.  The pandemic, unemployment, price hikes, insecurity, have generated an environment of unease, nonconformity, social and economic instability;  it only took the government to take an action that added negativity, and it was the straw that broke the camel's back.  Colombia is in crisis!

 Crisis, by definition, is a transition period where a major change in the status quo is generated.  For the human being, when he mentions the word crisis, he adds an additional component: "I don't know what to do, or what is going to happen."

 There have been many crises throughout the history of man, from the social, financial, political, cultural and religious.

 When David faced Goliath, the Philistines and Israelites were in the field of war;  the Philistines present their champion, he threatens them with his great size and strong character, and the Israelites enter into crisis: "When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and had great fear" Samuel 17:11.  All Israel, all the people of God, who had the almighty on their side, were troubled and had "GREAT" fear.  And of all the people only one, David, was not influenced by the crisis.  "The Lord, who has delivered me from the claws of the lion and the claws of the bear, will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" Samuel 17:37, and David ends up being king of Israel.

 One of the cruelest moments of crisis that the Bible recounts was Herod's slaughter of children under two years of age.  "Herod then, when he was mocked by the magi, he became very angry, and ordered to kill all the children under two years of age that were in Bethlehem and in all its surroundings, according to the time that he had inquired of the magi"  .  Matthew 2:16.  It is not known how many children Herod killed, the image must have been heartbreaking.  There are many paintings and sculptures of that event that reflect Herod's sadness, grief, and cruelty;  today we remember that on the day of the Holy Innocents.  But Mary did not go into crisis, she obeyed, fled to Egypt and waited for Herod to die before returning.

 Jesus was wanted to be judged by the Pharisees, he was arrested by the Roman soldiers after Judas kissed him on the cheek, the great betrayal as many remember.  At that moment of treachery, Peter entered a crisis, they were going to arrest his master, The Savior;  he drew his sword and nearly killed a servant named Malco (Matthew 18:10).  Jesus stops him and reminds him that this had to happen, he heals the wounded and lets himself be carried away by the soldiers.

 Throughout the Jewish-Christian life there have been many crises, some of them heartbreaking that have led entire peoples to enter a state of "great fear", but they have come out of all these crises.

 There are many promises from God, that He will always be with us, that nothing bad will happen to us, that we will be fine, but today we are not going to read a promise, we are going to read a directive from the Lord: “Above all, you must live  as citizens of heaven, behaving in a way worthy of the Good News about Christ.  So, whether I see you again or just hear from you, I will know that you are firm and united in the same spirit and purpose, fighting together for the faith, that is, the Good News. "  Philippians 1:27 NLT.  In another translation it says "Behave worthy of the gospel of Christ."

 Crises are tests, they are times where our character and faith are going to be tested.  At the end of the crisis, we must ask ourselves: How did the test go?  What should I improve in my behavior so that the gospel of Christ is seen in my life?  As my mom says, not just say we are, but look like it.  We say that we believe in Christ, let us behave as such.  We are called to be "Salt and light of the world" Matthew 5: 13-14.  We must be ready because more trials will come, great crises will come, but they are opportunities for others around us to know the gospel, recognize in us what the wonder of God has done in our lives and want to live the way of Christ themselves.  .

 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Jesus Christ" Philippians 4: 7

 Follow Christ, He will give you Tranquility in the midst of Crisis.

 God bless you!