We are living in a time of heightened anxiety across our nation and around the world. We feel the weight of economic uncertainty, political instability, and cultural divisiveness causing many of us to feel tired, stressed, and fearful.

What do we do when it feels like the world is unraveling and so much is beyond our control? This is where John the Baptist offers us a timely and powerful word from God. Like today, first-century Palestine was a world filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Yet through John’s message found in Matthew 3:1-6, we uncover three significant gifts to help us navigate these anxious times.