Hope in the Darkest Moment
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
In 2009, tragedy struck during a Sunday morning service at First Baptist Church when Pastor Fred Winters was shot and killed by a disturbed young man. The sudden loss shocked the congregation and devastated his family. Yet in the days that followed, something remarkable happened. His wife, Cindy Winters, spoke publicly about the tragedy. Instead of expressing anger or bitterness, she said that she and her family were praying for the man who had taken her husband’s life. Her daughter even expressed the hope that the man would come to know Jesus through the situation. Their response reflected a deep faith that refused to be overcome by hatred.
Such grace reminds us of the heart of the gospel itself. Easter, which now represents victory and hope, began with what looked like the greatest defeat imaginable—the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. To those watching that day, the cross appeared to be the end of everything. Yet God was working through that moment to accomplish the greatest redemption the world would ever know. What seemed like darkness became the doorway to salvation.
God often works in ways we cannot immediately understand. Pain, loss, and disappointment may leave us wondering how any good could come from such circumstances. Yet Scripture assures us that the Lord is never absent from our trials. Even in moments that seem unbearable, His purposes are unfolding. The same God who turned the tragedy of the cross into the triumph of the resurrection is able to work through the hardships of our lives for His glory and our good.
Read the final chapters of each Gospel account of the crucifixion and resurrection, noting how God turned apparent defeat into eternal victory.
When life brings pain or confusion, choose to trust that God is still working behind the scenes. Even in the darkest moments, His purposes are greater than we can see.
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" — Job 19:25
Daily Scripture Reading
Join us as we read through the Bible in one year, growing together in God’s Word day by day. Click on any underlined verse to access Pastor Burns’ helpful study notes and deeper insights.
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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