So simple, yet so powerful

One of the most powerful verses of poetry ever written is, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so.” It is so simple, yet so powerful and so profound. During one of the darkest seasons of my life nearly 25 years ago, these words brought great hope to me.

Anna Warner penned these words in the mid 1800s when she was aware of the coming Civil War in America. She lived with her father and sister near the US Military Academy at West Point. She constantly heard rumors of war. Yet in the face of uncertain times, every Sunday Anna taught Bible classes to the cadets.

Anna realized that if the southern states made good on their threat to withdraw from the Union, many of the boys she knew could be killed or wounded in the war that would follow. It broke her heart to consider this possibility, as she focused on leading each of them to Jesus. With an urgency brought about by a nation on the brink of dividing, sharing Christ’s love became her mission in life. She focused on the eternal.

In our day of uncertainty in many of our nations, let us follow Anna’s example and focus on that which is eternal. Let’s live by the truth that gives us great hope; “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so.” So simple, yet so powerful.